PlantFiles: Ginger
Asarum splendens

Ansarum splendens is a lovely shade garden plant. Its strongly marked leaves with a silvery shading on a very dark background catches the eye. I have some planted in light shade and other plants in dark shade and both seem happy and healthy. I am on year three with these plants and they come back reliably. Mine are in well drained, moderately rich soil and get watered a couple of times a week when it is hot and dry. They live adjacent to yellow corydalis, yarrow, solomon's seal and astilbe in a fern garden. So far I have seen no pest or disease issues. While not fast growers mine seem to be growing a bit each year. It is always a pleasure to find a smallish shade garden plant that lays close to the ground and has presence.

To clear any possible confusion:
This is an ornamental, or wild ginger. It is now classed as Hexastylis splendens because it is an evergreen plant, and spreads by runners to form a groundcover.
Edible ginger is Zingiber officinale.