Asarum pulchellum - Wild Ginger

Asarum pulchellum is a small perennial plant of Chinese origin that forms an excellent ground cover in shady and cool areas. This wild ginger carpets the ground with its beautiful heart-shaped, hairy, and glossy leaves, which remain decorative even in winter. In early spring, curious tiny, white flowers with a dark throat, bloom under the leaves. It is a vigorous and hardy plant, easy to grow in any soil that is not too compact, and it spreads nicely among rocks. You can also plant it at the base of taller plants, in the ground and in containers.

Asarum pulchellum belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family. It is native to temperate and subtropical Asia, specifically central and southern China. Its natural habitat consists of mixed forests (deciduous and evergreen trees) at altitudes between 700 and 1700 metres (2297 and 5577 feet). It is a rhizomatous perennial plant covered with fine hairs. Over time, it forms a tangled carpet that does not exceed 10-15 cm (4-6in) high. Its leaves are cordate to ovate, 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) long and 5 to 9.5 cm (2 to 4in) wide, arranged in pairs. Each leaf is carried by a whitish and hairy petiole, 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) long. The foliage remains evergreen in winter. The leaves are fairly light green, sometimes marbled with grey. Flowering occurs in March-April, very close to the ground. The flowers are solitary and urn-shaped, composed of a purple calyx on the outside and white on the inside, with 3 lobes and 9 to 12 stamens. This pulchellum species seems to be ignored by snails and other slugs.

Asarum are ground-covering perennials of mountain woodlands with often evergreen and highly decorative foliage. They make beautiful shade ground covers, suitable for moist, rich in humus, well-drained soil. Plant them alongside epimediums, hostas, Hakonehloa, heucheras, Solomon's seals, and trilliums that appreciate the same conditions.