Low-Maintenance Companion Plants That Grow Well With Wild Ginger

Do you have a shady area that needs vegetation? As its velvety green heart-shaped foliage slowly grows back each spring, wild ginger (Asarum canadense) provides a lush and hardy covering over your grounds and gardens. It's also one of the plants that thrives under pine trees. Not to be confused with the aromatic root used in cooking, wild ginger leaves aren't fit for raw human consumption due to aristolochic acid — a poisonous compound capable of causing kidney damage or failure. However, it was used by Native Americans medicinally for digestive issues, wound care, as a stimulant, and more.

In addition to being a cover crop that will help suppress weeds and soil erosion, their leaves also hide small and brownish-purple bell-shaped flowers that are a main attraction for pollinators and those seeking a host. Look forward to attracting butterflies since the leaves may feed and host caterpillars. In addition to butterflies, other pollinators include ants, beetles, and fungus gnats. Are you concerned about those cute vegetarians, namely deer and rabbits? Don't worry, if they come on your property, they are unlikely to munch on these leaves.

As you establish these hearty blooms on your property, why not have a companion? It's best to focus on plants that can thrive in a woodland environment, shade, and moist well-drained soil. Luckily, you have several options to pair with wild ginger, two of which include the dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) and sessile-leaf bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia).

When considering wild ginger companions that can showcase their beauty through all four seasons, consider the dwarf fothergilla, also known as witch-alder. These shrubs serve a delightful contrast to your wild ginger and are perfect for spring border gardens thanks to their white blooms and leaves that can span the spectrum depending on weather and temperature conditions. While you only see the flowers for about two or three weeks before they fade, their visual presence is accompanied by a delightful honey-like fragrance. As a result, it's another way to attract even more pollinators to your garden. However, if you plant this option, you may have to use precautions to keep deer away when the flowers are in spring bloom.

Those hungry deer fade with your short-lived flowers as blue-green oval-shaped leaves take hold. Are you looking to turn fall leaves into a beautiful statement piece? Just wait for the dwarf fothergilla to change into its fall costume of orange, red, or yellow leaves that can grow up to 6 feet high and wide. Its blooming long stems enjoy full sun in addition to partial shade. Therefore, you may wish to display them in borders around your wild ginger or as a single ornamental piece. Your low-maintenance shrub is active in USDA climate zones 5 through 8. In addition to aromatic clumps of spring flowers, you may see tiny insignificant fruit in fall. If you want to spread these plants, successful propagation is done by using stem cuttings.

The sessile-leaf bellwort has many monikers, including wild oats, sessile bellwort, mountain bellwort, and straw lily. Homeowners can enjoy the fruits of sowing their wild oats and understand the source of their name as these wild ginger companions sprout beautiful yellow or cream-colored flowers in elongated bell shapes. Measuring about an inch long, one or two drooping flowers with six petals hang down on a stalk. Its much taller yellow-green leaves can measure about 3 inches long, so they may hide the flowers in certain formations.

Before planting them, pick the right location, as their long underground stem can make transplanting difficult. You can propagate these plants like a pro using either seeds or root cuttings. Otherwise, you can expect it to seed itself out to become a perennial ground cover. Winter prep should include using a cover of leaves for composting. Look out for slugs, as they can damage young plants. Some methods of control other planters have used include setting beer traps since the slimy creatures appear to like the fermentation gasses. Copper wiring may also work since slugs don't like to crawl over it.

The dwarf fothergilla and sessile-leaf bellwort are just a couple wild ginger companions to consider. Others include twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), starflowers (Maianthemum stellatum), and Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens). Just be sure to verify the invasive status of any companion you intend to plant.