Wild ginger, Canada Snakeroot, Vermont snakeroot, Heart snakeroot, American wild ginger
Asarum canadense
Family: Aristolochiaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen herb. It can grow 1 m tall. It lies along the ground and has a ginger smell. It has a slender underground stem or rhizome. The leaves are dark green, hairy and heart shaped. They are 5-20 cm across. The flowers are urn shaped and purple brown. They are on short stalks near the ground.
There are about 70-100 Asarum species. They are mainly temperate in the Northern hemisphere.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in rich woods, near rocks. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. It suits hardiness zone 2-8.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The young rootstocks are cut into pieces and boiled for an hour then simmered for 20-30 minutes in a rich sugar solution. These make a sweet. The dried and rushed rootstocks can be used as a substitute for ginger. The flowers can also be used as flavouring. Caution: It can contain Aristolochic acid that damages the liver and kidneys and also asarone which causes cancer. It should not be taken by pregnant women.
Edible parts
Roots, flowers, spice, leaves - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by division.
Its other names
Local names
Ginger root, Heart snakeroot, Indian ginger, Woodland ginger