Photo: Daniel J. Layton, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Perennial · Aristolochiaceae
Asarabacca
Asarum europaeum
In other languages: Mansoor (Nederlands) · Asaret d’Europe (Français)
Asarabacca, also called European wild ginger, is a low, evergreen ground cover from the birthwort family, native to the deciduous woodlands of Europe, from France to Russia. It forms dense carpets of glossy, dark green, kidney-shaped leaves 5–10 cm across. The flowers are small, bell-shaped and brownish purple, and in spring they sit so low among the leaves that you hardly see them. Crushed leaves and rhizomes have a sharp, spicy smell, which earned it the name wild ginger. Gardeners value it as one of the finest ground covers for deep shade, where it slowly but surely forms a glossy carpet.
Caution: All parts are poisonous, especially the rhizome. Keep children, cats, dogs and grazing animals away from the plant and never use it as a herb or spice, even though it is called wild ginger. Wear gloves when dividing it or clearing it up.
Light
Partial shade or shade
tolerates little sun
Moisture
Normal to wet
must not dry out
Legal basis
Loam or clay
neutral to chalky
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -35 °C
Size
0.1 m
tall, 0.3 m wide
| Height | 0.1 m |
|---|---|
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Identify
Asarabacca: how do you recognise it?
- Habit
- Low, creeping carpet about 10 cm tall; each plant spreads to 20–30 cm.
- Leaves
- Kidney-shaped to rounded, 5–10 cm across, firm, glossy dark green and evergreen.
- Flower
- Small, bell-shaped and brownish purple, hidden under the leaves at ground level in spring; of little ornamental value.
- Smell
- Crushed leaves and the rhizome smell sharp and spicy.
- Roots
- Creeping, branching rhizomes just below the surface, from which new leaves slowly appear.
- Toxicity
- All parts are poisonous, especially the rhizome.
Plants: March–April and September–October
In your garden
Why grow it?
- One of the few ground covers that also thrive in deep shade, even under shrubs.
- Glossy, evergreen leaves that look good all year and stand out especially in winter.
- It grows dense and low, keeping weeds down without becoming invasive.
- Fully hardy and very long-lived: once the carpet has closed, it stays attractive for years.
- A calm, glossy edging along a shady path or on the north side of the house.
Asarabacca: where does it grow best?
- Partial to deep shade; full sun scorches the leaves.
- Humus-rich loam or clay, neutral to chalky, as in a deciduous wood.
- Moist to damp; do not let the soil dry out for long.
- Ideal under shrubs and trees, along shady paths and at the foot of a north-facing wall.
- Plant closely, 25–30 cm apart, about twelve plants per m².
- Light
- Partial shade and shade
- Soil type
- Loam or clay
- Acidity
- Neutral or chalky
- Moisture
- Normal or wet
- Size
- 0.1 m tall, 0.3 m wide
- Hardiness
- Hardy (to -35 °C)
Goes well with
- Ferns: Fine, taller foliage above the low, glossy carpet.
- Snowdrops: White bells that flower in late winter among the evergreen leaves.
- Hellebores: Evergreen and early-flowering, on the same chalky, shady soil.
- Wood anemone: White spring flowers in the same woodland carpet.
- Hosta: Large leaves as a contrast to the small, rounded ones.
Maintenance
Asarabacca: when and how to plant it?
Plant in March–April and September–October.
- Plant in March–April or in September–October, when the ground is not frozen.
- First remove perennial weeds thoroughly: in a slow ground cover they are hard to get out later.
- Mix plenty of leaf mould or compost into the top 20 cm of soil.
- Set the plants at the same depth as in the pot, 25–30 cm apart in staggered rows, about twelve per m².
- Water in well and keep the soil moist during the first year.
- Mulch between the plants with leaf mould, so the rhizomes can spread easily.
Care
- Watering
- In the first year, water regularly in dry weather. After that, only during long dry spells, especially under trees.
- Feeding
- A layer of leaf mould or compost in spring is enough.
- Mulching
- A thin layer of fallen tree leaves can stay; remove thick layers so they do not smother the evergreen foliage.
- Weeding
- Weed regularly by hand for the first two years, until the carpet has closed.
- Old leaves
- In March, cut off damaged or faded leaves, just before the new ones appear.
Tip: Plant it in staggered rows, about twelve per m², and mulch every year with leaf mould: the carpet then closes in 2–3 years and you hardly need to weed any more.
Asarabacca: when to prune it?
When: Asarabacca does not need pruning. Just remove damaged or unsightly leaves in March.
How:
- Cut off loose, brown or torn leaves at the base.
- Leave the healthy leaves: they protect the plant until the new foliage has developed.
- Wear gloves and clear up the waste straight away, so children and pets cannot get at it.
Caution: Never mow or cut back the whole carpet: it grows slowly and recovers only with difficulty.
Propagation
- Division
- In March–April or in September, take pieces of rhizome with a few leaves and roots and replant them straight away in their new spot. Water well.
- Seed
- Sow ripe seed immediately in early summer in a pot of humus-rich compost and stand it outdoors in the shade. Germination is slow and the young plants grow slowly.
Asarabacca: how does it get through the winter?
Hardy to −35 °C.
- Fully hardy, to about −35 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
- The leaves stay green and glossy, even under snow.
- In hard frost without snow cover some leaves may discolour; new ones appear in spring.
- In a pot: stand it in the shade against a wall and do not let the compost dry out.
Diseases and pests
- Slugs: They make holes in the young leaves in spring. Pick them off in the evening; hedgehogs and ground beetles help.
- Scorched leaves: Brown or pale patches caused by sun or drying wind. Move the plant to a shadier spot and keep the soil moist.
- Slow growth: It takes a few years for the carpet to close. Plant closely, add leaf mould and weed regularly.
- Drought: Limp, dull leaves under trees or in dry summers. Water generously and mulch every year.
Through the year
- January: The evergreen leaves brighten the shade border.
- March: Cut off damaged leaves. Plant or divide. Add compost.
- April: New leaves. Planting. Watch out for slugs.
- May: Weed between the young plants.
- June: Seed ripens; sow it straight away if you want more plants.
- July: Water in dry weather.
- August: Water in dry weather, especially under trees.
- September: Plant or divide.
- October: Planting. Leaf mould between the plants.
- November: Remove thick layers of fallen leaves from the carpet.
- December: Rest. The glossy leaves stay attractive.
Use
Edible and useful
Not edible. All parts of asarabacca are poisonous, especially the rhizome: it contains asarone, among other things, which causes vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea and is harmful with longer use. It is also called wild ginger and the rhizome smells spicy and peppery, but it is not a spice: never use it as ginger, a herb or a tea. It was once used to make people vomit or sneeze; do not do this. Keep children, cats, dogs and grazing animals away from the plant, and wear gloves when dividing or tidying it. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.
You and this species
Did you know?
- The seed carries a fatty appendage that attracts ants: they carry it off and so spread the plant.
- It belongs to the birthwort family, like Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia), and is not related to true ginger.