Wild ginger, Long-tailed wild ginger
Asarum caudatum
Family: Aristolochiaceae
What it is like
A herb with thick creeping rootstocks which produce new shoots. It grows 8-10 cm high and spreads 80-100 cm wide. Each shoot has 2 leaves and a flower. The leaves are heart shaped. The flowers are often hidden below the flowers. The flower is purplish-brown. It has 3 lobes drawn out into 5 cm long tails.
Asarum are mainly temperate in the Northern hemisphere.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It is native to the west coast of North America. It grows in moist shaded woods. It grows up to 1520 m altitude. It is best in humus-rich, moist soils. It is frost resistant but drought tender. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
America, Australia, Canada, North America
How it is used for food
The rootstocks used fresh or dried and powdered as a ginger substitute. The leaves are also used for tea.
Edible parts
Roots, spice, leaves - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds of division of the rhizome.