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Asarum caudatum - Lindl.

Common Name Wild Ginger, British Columbia wildginger
Family Aristolochiaceae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards Although no reports of toxicity have been found for this plant, at least 3 other members of this genus have reports that the leaves are toxic[7, 19]. Some caution is therefore advised in the use of this plant.
Habitats Deep shade in moist pine woods and redwood forests[60, 187]. Understory of conifer forests, usually in mesic or wet places from sea level to 1200 metres and occasionally to 2200 metres[270].
Range Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Asarum caudatum Wild Ginger, British Columbia wildginger


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Asarum caudatum Wild Ginger, British Columbia wildginger
(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red. Main Bloom Time: Mid spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Asarum caudatum is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The root can be used as a ginger substitute[183]. The root has a pungent, aromatic smell like mild pepper and ginger mixed, but more strongly aromatic. It can be harvested all year round, but is best in the autumn[K]. It can also be dried for later use[K]. Leaves are a tea substitute[177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic  Antirheumatic  Appetizer  Laxative  Poultice  Stomachic  Tonic

The root is laxative, stomachic and tonic[61, 257]. A tea made from the root is used in the treatment of colds, colic, indigestion and stomach pains[213, 257]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238]. The whole plant is analgesic, antirheumatic, appetizer and tonic[257]. A decoction is used externally to treat headaches, intestinal pain and knee pains[257]. A poultice made from the heated leaves is applied to boils, skin infections and toothaches, whilst a decoction of the leaves is used as a wash on sores[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A useful ground-cover plant for deep shade[187], spreading by its roots[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Ground cover, Woodland garden. Prefers a rich moist neutral to acid soil in woodland or a shady position in the rock garden[1, 200]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200]. The flowers are malodorous and are pollinated by flies[200]. Plants often self-sow when growing in a suitable position[200]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, Fragrant foliage, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[134]. Stored seed will require 3 weeks cold stratification and should be sown in late winter[134]. The seed usually germinates in the spring in 1 - 4 or more weeks at 18°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out when large enough in late spring. Division in spring or autumn. Plants are slow to increase[200]. It is best to pot the divisions up and keep them in light shade in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia), United States (Idaho (north), Montana (west), Oregon, Washington), United States (California (n. & w.))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Asarum arifolium Perennial0.2 6-9  LMHFSM012
Asarum blumei Perennial0.2 6-9  LMHFSM01 
Asarum canadenseSnake Root, Canadian wildginger, Canada Wild Ginger, Wild GingerPerennial0.1 3-9 SLMHFSM333
Asarum dilatatum Perennial0.0 -  LMHFSM20 
Asarum europaeumAsarabacca, European Wild GingerPerennial0.1 4-8 SLMHFSM023
Asarum forbesiiDu HengPerennial0.2 -  LMHFSM01 
Asarum heterotropoides Perennial0.2 -  LMHFSM02 
Asarum maximum Perennial0.5 6-9  LMHFSM01 
Asarum nipponicum Perennial0.1 -  LMHFSM10 
Asarum reflexum Perennial0.2 5-9  LMHFSM20 
Asarum shuttleworthiiAsarabacca, Mottled Wild GingerPerennial0.1 5-9 FLMHFSM202
Asarum sieboldiiWild GingerPerennial0.2 -  LMHFSM02 
Asarum splendensChinese Wild GingerPerennial0.2 5-9 SLMFSDM303
Asarum takaoi Perennial0.1 -  LMHFSM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Lindl.

Botanical References

60200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Sara   Tue Jan 3 2006

healingbooks has a detailed benefits list of ginger including links to research

L D   Mon Jan 26 2009

I would like to share my experience with wild ginger. Using the guide that I had available, and a little bit of forgetful oversight, I accidentally poisoned myself and at least one other. I made a wild salad that I supplemented with a couple wild ginger leaves for flavor. It was said in the guide that the leaves could be used in tea, and the roots raw or cooked as a flavoring, but it did not explicitly say that the leaves were edible or inedible raw. I was at a potluck after I had eaten very little. I stuffed myself, and had enough salad to consume at least 1 or 2 whole leaves of Wild ginger. I got very ill to my stomach, and so did one other person. I puked 3 times, and the other person was ill with puking and nausia till the next morning. Do not eat raw, or only eat raw perhapse as an anti-nausia on an empty stomach. It is both an anti-nausea, and ipecac. I believe that it operated as an ipecac because I had eaten so much.

david   Sat Dec 26 2009

Leaves can be used as a seasoning, but large does might cause vomiting (From:The Encylopedia of Edible Plants of North America by Couplan)

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