Asarum canadense
Canadian Wild Ginger
Canadian Ginger is a colony-forming perennial that grows only 4-8 in. high. Each plant bears a pair of large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Growing at ground level hidden below the leaves is a single darkish red-brown to green-brown flower. The root of this spring flower has a strong ginger-like odor and, when cooked with sugar, can be used as a substitute for ginger.
Ginger is easily propagated by division. It is the larval host for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly.