Outstanding Qualities

This Pacific Northwest native is tops for the garden. Its bold, heart-shaped leaves are fully evergreen and release a spicy, ginger-and-citrus fragrance when crushed. Asarum caudatum grows as an understory plant in our forests, so it is accustomed to dry, shady locations. Be sure to peek beneath the foliage in late winter to see the unusual, triangular, rust-brown flowers. This is one of the few wild gingers that have a fair degree of slug resistance.