Asarum virginicum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
In Cherokee Nation traditions of the plant was taken to aid the digestive system. The roots are traditionally used in a hot infusion to help eliminate mucus from the lungs.
Plant Profile: Asarum virginicum
Taxonomy: Asarum virginicumNames
Heart-Leaf Ginger, Little Brown Jug, Virgina Ginger, Wild Ginger
Phonetic Spelling:ah-SAIR-um ver-JIN-ih-kum
Genus:Asarum
Species:virginicum
Family:Aristolochiaceae
Little Brown Jugs is a perennial herb native to the Birthwort family, thriving in lush hardwood forests, on the slopes of ravines, and beside streams. This evergreen plant features a delicate, creeping rhizome and flourishes in moist, organic-rich, acidic soil, ideally in full or partial shade. Its mottled foliage serves as the primary ornamental attraction, while its unique flowers typically remain concealed beneath the leaves.
This petite groundcover creates a low-lying mat that enhances the visual appeal of woodland gardens or shaded rock gardens. Due to its small stature, it is best planted in clusters to maximize its impact and should be positioned at the front to avoid overshadowing taller plants. Little Brown Jugs is versatile, suitable for use along pathways, in rock gardens, as a low border, or around the bases of trees.
Asarum virginicum Feature Summary
Asarum virginicum Image Gallery
Tags
#purple
#evergreen
#small spaces
#purple flowers
#slow growing
#shade garden
#spotted
#fall interest
#interesting leaves
#ornamentals
#heart-shaped
#rock gardens
#native groundcover
#mottled
#small group plantings
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Asarum virginicum Feature Summary
Attributes
In Cherokee Nation traditions of the plant was taken to aid the digestive system. The roots are traditionally used in a hot infusion to help eliminate mucus from the lungs.
Southeastern North America
NC, WV, Va, SC, Tenn., FL, KY
Perennial
Division
Root Cutting
Fruit
Fleshy capsule
Capsule
Flowers
2-in., dark purple to crimson bronze-brown flowers from early spring to early summer. They have no petals and consist of a leathery calyx with 3 spreading lobes. They can be hard to see as they are often hidden under the leaves.
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Spring
Summer
1-3 inches
Leaves
3-inch, heart-shaped stiff leaves appear single, paired or in groups of three and are often mottled with light and dark green
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
White
Variegated
Simple
Cordate
Entire
1-3 inches
Showy
Long-lasting
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Ground Cover
Broadleaf Evergreen
Spreading
Horizontal
Clumping
Slow
Low
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
High Organic Matter
Stem
Landscape
Rock Garden
Native Garden
Border
Small groups
Woodland
Small Space
Asarum virginicum Image Gallery
Asarum virginicum Attributes
Asarum virginicum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeastern North America
Asarum virginicum: Distribution
NC, WV, Va, SC, Tenn., FL, KY
Asarum virginicum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Asarum virginicum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Asarum virginicum Fruit
Asarum virginicum: Fruit Description
Fleshy capsule
Asarum virginicum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Asarum virginicum Flowers
Asarum virginicum: Flower Description
2-in., dark purple to crimson bronze-brown flowers from early spring to early summer. They have no petals and consist of a leathery calyx with 3 spreading lobes. They can be hard to see as they are often hidden under the leaves.
Asarum virginicum: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Asarum virginicum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Asarum virginicum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Asarum virginicum: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Asarum virginicum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Asarum virginicum Leaves
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Description
3-inch, heart-shaped stiff leaves appear single, paired or in groups of three and are often mottled with light and dark green
Asarum virginicum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Color
Green
Variegated
White
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Asarum virginicum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Asarum virginicum: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Asarum virginicum Whole Plant Traits
Asarum virginicum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Asarum virginicum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Asarum virginicum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Asarum virginicum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Asarum virginicum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Asarum virginicum Cultural Conditions
Asarum virginicum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Asarum virginicum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Asarum virginicum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Asarum virginicum: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Asarum virginicum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Asarum virginicum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Asarum virginicum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Asarum virginicum Stem
Asarum virginicum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Asarum virginicum Landscape
Asarum virginicum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Asarum virginicum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Asarum virginicum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
