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Asarum canadense L.
Canada Wild Ginger
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G5TNRQ
State Rank: S2?
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
2025 SGCN Priority Tier:
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 4
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: First order streams on high elevation mountains in the Blue Ridge.
Herbaceous perennial up to 12 in. (30 cm) tall. Stems are very short, at or just above ground level, green to dark green, and sparsely pubescent. The two basal leaves arise separately on long, erect, pilose petioles. Leaf blades are light green, simple, entire, strongly cordate at the base, and typically measure about 3 in. long by 4 in. wide. Roots are rhizomatous, allowing plants to form colonies.A single flower develops at the basal split of the petioles, borne on a short stalk. Flowers are ½–1 in. (1.2–2.5 cm) long, green to dark red, orbicular, and pilose. Outer calyx lobes are a darker red, narrowing toward the tips and spreading outward with a slight upward curve. The reproductive column inside the flower is also red. Blooming occurs in early summer and lasts 3–4 weeks. Fruits are dry capsules that split open to release seeds bearing an elaiosome, which attracts ants for dispersal.
In Georgia, Asarum canadense is found only in the northern portion of the state, in the mountains along streams. Its flower calyx lobes are spreading to ascending, and narrow toward the tip. One other species of Asarum is found in Georgia; Reflexed Canada Wild Ginger (Asarum reflexum). However, this species is not restricted to the northern part of the state. It is similar to Asarum canadense in its leaf shape and color; however, its flower calyx are reflexed back along the flower. The Hexastylis genus has several species that occur in similar habits to Wild Ginger, however their leaves are typically mottled, and their flowers are brown to mottled brownish red.
Reflexed Canada Wild Ginger (Asarum reflexum) is also rare in Georgia.
Asarum canadense is found in the northern portion of Georgia, along first streams on high elevation mountains of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Asarum canadense is an herbaceous perennial that can live for several years. It grows primarily in shaded to partially sunlit mountain forests along stream headwaters, where populations include both vegetative and flowering plants that often form colonies. Rhizomatous roots allow colonies to spread gradually along streams. Flowers appear in early summer and last for several weeks. They are pollinated by flies and ground-dwelling insects such as ants and beetles, which may also aid in seed dispersal.
Asarum canadense may be identified during the growing season (spring to fall) by its light green strongly cordate leaves and location, and during early summer with its red flower with spreading and narrowing calyx lobes.
Throughout eastern North America and into eastern Canada, reaching its southeastern extent in northern Georgia, and the Carolinas. In Georgia, Asarum canadense is known from the northern portion of the state.
There may be minimal threats to this species, since the only verified occurrences are from the Chattahoochee National Forest in high elevations along headwater streams.
Asarum canadense is ranked S2? by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating it may be imperiled in the state but requires further review. Canada Wild Ginger has been documented in four locations in Georgia. All of these occur on public land. It is likely found in other high-elevation stream headwater habitats in similar regions of the state.
Protect known populations from logging.
GADNR. 2025. Element occurrence records for Asarum canadense. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Wildlife Conservation Section. Social Circle, Georgia.
Haw Honey. 2018. https://hawhoney.com/
Minnesota Wildflowers. 2006-2025. https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/canadian-wild-ginger.
Missouri Botanical Garden. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b460.
NatureServe. 2025. Species account for Asarum canadense. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org/. Accessed 2025 March 3.
North Carolina Native Plant Society, 2024. https://ncwildflower.org/wild-gingers-hexastylis-and-asarum-in-north-carolina/.
North Carolina State University. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asarum-canadense/.
Prairie Moon Nursery. 2025. https://www.prairiemoon.com/asarum-canadense-wild-ginger#panel-qna.
Saratoga Seed. https://saratogaseed.com/product/wild-ginger-plants-asarum-canadense/.
Spaulding, D.D., T.W. Barger, and H.E. Horne. 2018. Flora of northern Alabama, part 3. Primitive Angiosperms. Phytoneuron 2018-11: 1–120. Published 26 February 2018. ISSN 2153 733X (comm. Estes, 2015).
Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the southeast United States. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Nathan Thomas
3 March 2025
