Asarum splendens
Splendid Chinese Wild Ginger
Item #: 720
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Splendid indeed! Asarum splendens is a vigorous and superbly easy-to-grow Chinese wild ginger that makes a great evergreen groundcover for the woodland garden. The large, dark green, deer-resistant leaves (evergreen to 10 degrees F) are heavily adorned with silvery mottling throughout. Asarum splendens is a vigorously rhizomatous species, spreading underground to 6' wide in 10 years. In early spring, you will also love this one for the large 2" flowers of dark purple...one of the finest members of the ginger family. Our original stock came from China, via both Jim Waddick and Barry Yinger.
Maintenance:
In the woodland garden, Asarum splendens needs no maintenance once established. It spreads widely via underground rhizomes, and once established is almost impossible to eradicate. This isn't a problem unless it's planted too close to other smaller, more defenseless woodland perennials.
Growing Conditions:
Asarum grows best in a rich moist, woodland soil, but is also incredibly drought tolerant, growing in extremely dry soils once established. As you can imagine, the growth rate is much slower in drier soils. Wild ginger can also tolerate soils that remain waterlogged, although growth is also much slower in these conditions.
Natural Impacts:
The primary pollinators for Splendid Chinese wild ginger is the lowly pill bug or roly-poly.
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Other Attributes
Genus: Asarum
Flower Color: Brown/Tan , Multicolor , Purple/Lavender , Violet
Leaf Color: Green , Silver/Grey , Variegated , Spotted/Speckled
Bloom Time: Spring
Container Role: Fillers
Garden Themes: Fairy Garden Plants , Gnome Gardens , Living Wall
Other: Fragrant Foliage Plants , Deer Resistant Plants , Drought Tolerant Plants , Dry Shade Plants , Groundcovers , Pollinator Plants , Medicinal Plants , Plants from China , Rabbit Resistant Plants , Colored Foliage , Patterned Foliage