Native Plant Series: Wild Ginger

In 2023, along with all other 49 states and D.C., the State of Maryland has proclaimed April as “Native Plant Month”. In celebration, ACWA is highlighting native plant species that are better choices for a sustainable ecosystem, supporting numerous pollinator species, while also encouraging homeowners to remove aggressive invasive plants causing problems in our local watershed.

Plant this - Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), is a wonderful native ground cover with some really cool features. It is often found in damp wooded areas and a perennial plant, meaning it comes back year after year. Its flowers are very unique as they grow on ground level, under the leaves. Wild Ginger is also beneficial for the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) using wild ginger as a caterpillar host plant.

As a spreading plant, Wild Ginger is a good replacement plant for English Ivy which is super invasive. English Ivy has a way of escaping anywhere - climbing up trees, climbing up brick, traveling on strong vines and crowding out other plants in its path. If you have invasive English Ivy on your property, you should try to remove it as soon as possible. The vines must be cut and bagged, and an herbicide should be used to ensure successful removal. Details on English Ivy removal can be found in this PA DCNR fact sheet.