Plants in family aristolochiaceae
Asarum sieboldii
Asarum sieboldii is a medicinal herb native to the forested mountain slopes of China and Korea. It features upright, fuzzy green leaves and small dark purple flowers in mid-spring. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, this easy-to-grow plant thrives in woodland gardens and is resistant to deer and rabbits.
Asarum asperum
Asarum asperum, a species of wild ginger, is endemic to Japan and commonly found near Kyoto and Nara. This perennial features thick evergreen leaves with a central stripe of silver and produces ground-level maroon flowers in March. It forms tight clumps and prefers average to slightly moist soils, making it a suitable groundcover for shaded areas.
Asarum heterophyllum
Asarum heterophyllum is a rare native ginger from the southeastern United States, featuring glossy evergreen foliage that forms a dense mat in woodland gardens. This plant is ideal for dry shade areas and is valued for its ability to thrive in part sun to shade conditions.
Asarum arifolium
Asarum arifolium is a US native plant from the Florida Panhandle, known for its arrowhead-shaped, anise-scented leaves. It forms shiny dark green clumps with silver veining and produces dark purple flowers in early spring. This evergreen plant is ideal for shade gardens, offering a fragrant and visually appealing groundcover.
Aristolochia fimbriata
Aristolochia fimbriata, also known as Dutchman's pipe, is a deciduous groundcover native to South America. It features green stems with rounded leaves and silver veining, and produces yellow and brown flowers resembling miniature elephant trunks. This plant attracts butterflies and is known for its traditional medicinal properties.
Aristolochia watsonii
Aristolochia watsonii, a North American native, is a vine known for its bronze-purple foliage that turns green in the shade. It produces small, bronze, bong-shaped flowers that attract pipevine swallowtails. This drought-tolerant plant grows on dry, rocky slopes and is toxic to humans. Its leaves are arrowhead-shaped and change color in response to sun and drought conditions. The plant blooms from April to October and has been used medicinally by Native Americans. It is found from Arizona to western Texas and is a favorite among rock gardeners.
Aristolochia rotunda
Aristolochia rotunda, also known as European birthwort, is a semi-sprawling, deciduous plant with rounded green leaves and small reddish-purple flowers. Native to Southern Europe, it thrives in open alkaline woodlands and roadsides. This plant is known for its historical use in traditional medicine, although it contains aristolochic acids, which are carcinogenic and nephrotoxic.
Asarum canadense
Asarum canadense, also known as wild ginger, is a herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America. It forms dense colonies with velvety, kidney-shaped leaves and blooms tan to purple flowers from April to June. This plant prefers moist, poorly-drained sites and is used as a groundcover in woodland settings.
Asarum caulescens
Asarum caulescens, or Asian ginger, is an easy-to-grow plant with dark green leaves featuring deeply impressed veins. It produces rosy pink flowers with reflexed petals in early spring, adding a touch of color to shaded garden areas.
Asarum europaeum
Asarum europaeum, also known as European wild ginger, is a creeping evergreen perennial with glossy, kidney-shaped leaves. It produces small, hidden purple flowers and is ideal for shade gardens, offering deer resistance and a unique groundcover option.
Aristolochia serpentaria
Aristolochia serpentaria, or Virginia snakeroot, is a native plant of eastern North America with pipe-shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It serves as a larval host for swallowtail butterflies and is endangered in some states.
Asarum tamaense
Asarum tamaense is an evergreen clump-forming plant with thick lustrous leaves and a white to yellow clouded pattern. It features small ruffled flowers and is native to Japan.
Asarum shuttleworthii
Asarum shuttleworthii is a clumping plant native to the southeastern United States, known for its glossy, dark evergreen foliage with wide silver vein patterning. It produces dark purple, barrel-shaped flowers in late spring. This plant is ideal for moist to boggy acidic sites and can be used as a groundcover or border plant. Its unique foliage and flowers make it a standout in shade gardens.
Aristolochia trilobata
Aristolochia trilobata, commonly known as Dutchman's Pipe, is a plant with a distinctive flower featuring a long filament. It prefers sun to partial shade and thrives in temperatures ranging from 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for a variety of climates.
Asarum nipponicum
Asarum nipponicum is a Japanese species well-suited for cool climates, featuring rounded, dark green leaves with silver speckles. This evergreen plant forms clumps and is ideal for dry shade gardens. Its attractive foliage and low maintenance requirements make it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add texture and interest to shaded areas.
Asarum rigescens
Asarum rigescens is an evergreen clumping species from Southern Honshu, Japan, known for its thick glossy leaves with deeply impressed veins. It is suitable for shaded garden areas and adds a lush, green texture to the landscape.
Aristolochia debilis
Aristolochia debilis, commonly known as Dutchman's pipe, is a deciduous vine native to southern China and Japan. It features heart-shaped leaves and purple, trumpet-like flowers. This plant is used in traditional medicine and can grow up to 15 feet long.
Asarum caudatum
Asarum caudatum, native to the northwest United States, is an evergreen plant with satiny heart-shaped leaves that form a carpet in woodland gardens. It produces reddish-brown, purplish cup-shaped flowers from April to July, which are pollinated by flies. This spreading species thrives in moist, shaded environments and reproduces both rhizomatously and sexually, with seeds dispersed by ants. Known for its antifungal properties, the root is edible and was used medicinally by Native Americans.
Asarum arifolium var. ruthii
Asarum arifolium var. ruthii, or wild ginger, is an evergreen plant with triangular leaves marked by dull silver patterns. Known for its anise-like aroma when crushed, it is well-suited for woodland gardens and forms attractive clumps. This plant produces dark purple flowers in early spring, adding subtle beauty to shaded areas. Its evergreen nature and unique leaf markings make it a valuable groundcover, providing year-round interest and texture in garden settings.
Asarum ikegamii
Asarum ikegamii is a heat-tolerant evergreen ginger from Northern Japan, featuring large dark green glossy leaves. It has a semi-running habit, forming a tightly knit groundcover, making it ideal for shaded garden areas.
Asarum fauriei var. takaoi
Asarum fauriei var. takaoi is a Japanese wild ginger with evergreen groundcover properties, ideal for woodland gardens. It has 1.5-inch round green leaves with muted silver patterns and small, hidden flowers at leaf axils.
Asarum megacalyx
Asarum megacalyx, commonly known as wild ginger, is an evergreen groundcover native to Japan. This plant is characterized by its dark green foliage and large, dark purple flowers that bloom in March. It is a running species, making it excellent for covering shaded areas in gardens. Wild ginger thrives in part sun to light shade and is well-suited for dry shade conditions. Its unique appearance and ability to spread make it a valuable addition to woodland gardens or shaded borders.
Asarum hexalobum
Asarum hexalobum is a Japanese species known for its vigorous clump-forming habit and dark green rounded leaves with silver patterns. Although its flowers are insignificant, the plant's foliage provides a striking ground cover in shaded garden areas.
Asarum fauriei var. takaoi 'Pitter Patter'
Asarum fauriei var. takaoi 'Pitter Patter' is a low-growing evergreen mat with deep green leaves featuring large central silver patterns. It reaches 1 inch in height and spreads 2 feet wide over seven years. This plant produces tiny purple flowers in late winter and is well-suited for shade gardens, offering a unique groundcover option with its striking foliage.
Asarum ichangense 'Ichang Lemon'
Asarum ichangense 'Ichang Lemon' is a semi-evergreen wild ginger native to China, featuring small creamy yellow flowers in late winter. It forms a clump of green foliage and is easy to grow in light shade with average garden soils, making it a unique addition to shaded areas.
Asarum megacalyx 'Green Sheen'
Asarum megacalyx 'Green Sheen' is an evergreen groundcover with glossy dark green foliage. It produces large, dark purple flowers in late February to early March and thrives in slightly moist, organic soils.
Asarum lutchuense
Asarum lutchuense is a vigorous clumping plant known for its large, glossy leaves that can reach up to 8 inches in length. In early spring, it produces greenish-brown flowers that add subtle interest to its lush foliage. This plant is well-suited for shaded areas and thrives in moist, well-drained soils. Its robust growth habit and attractive leaves make it a desirable choice for shade gardens and woodland settings.
Asarum magnificum 'Silver Cheeks'
Asarum magnificum 'Silver Cheeks' is an easy-to-grow clump-forming plant with large, thick evergreen leaves featuring silver streaks. It produces black-purple flowers with a wrinkled white throat, adding a unique touch to shaded garden areas.
Asarum nobilissimum 'Super Shield'
Asarum nobilissimum 'Super Shield' is a perennial with striking silver-patterned foliage, forming a 10-inch tall patch. It produces large, yellow-speckled purple flowers in April and spreads slowly through stolons. This plant is suitable for part sun to light shade and is tolerant of dry conditions, making it ideal for shade gardens.