Looking for a ground cover for that consistently moist, totally shady spot where nothing else seems to grow? Wild ginger may be what you are looking for! This moisture loving native perennial is grown primarily for its stemless,heart-shaped, dark green leaves, but also features attractive ground hugging purplish -brown flowers in the spring. Wild ginger typically reaches 6 to 9 inches in height and spreads fairly slowly by rhizomes. The roots give off a light scent of ginger, but it is not used as a culinary plant. Try to purchase regionally grown plants since some strains have thicker leaves that are more adaptable to heat. It is deer resistant.
