Asarum europaeum 'European Ginger'
Submitted by RonsGarden on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 13:03
(5 votes)
I would lable this one as invasive since the seed pods explode scattering the seeds everywhere. In spite of this bad habit, I love the glossy semi-evergreen foliage that grows thickly, which smothers out any competition from neighboring plants!
Grows 8" high and has a spread of 20".
Hardy to zones 5 to 9.
Needs partial shade (morning sun is great) to full shade (shade from the afternoon and evening sun.
Drought tolerant once established.
Flowers in June (if you can find them under all the foliage close to the ground) followed by small seed pods which explode once the pods mature and ripen! Seedlings are easy to spot whenever, and wherever they pop up in other areas of the garden due to their dark green glossy leaves!
This is not a relative of the ginger we use as a spice!
Ron ~ zone 6b ~ Ontario
.JPG "Asarum europaeum 'European Ginger'")
It is so cool looking! I
Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.
Can't say for sure!
Since it is hardy from zones 5 to 9, I guess you could use it as a container plant!
There is no detectable fragrance from the odd/ugly/alien looking flowers. They probably attract ants to do the pollenating....or they maybe self-pollenating.
Ron ~ zone 6b ~ Ontario
Attract ants, you say?
Attract ants, you say? Forget about it! Here in Texas, we have a population of ants -- and cockroaches that probably exceed the population of humans in the world...and I'm talking Texas alone....You get the idea...bugs are a problem here!
Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.
Oh, Well!
As an added bonus this plant is bug and disease resistant. I have yet to see anything feeding on the leaves.
By the way, these are small sugar type ants!
Ron ~ zone 6b ~ Ontario
We get those small sugar type
Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.