Asarum

Family Aristolochiaceae. Name: derives from the Greek word 'asaron'; Dioscorides called the European Asarum this; the meaning of the word is unclear.

Description of Asarum: There are 14 known species growing in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Perennial plants with branching rhizomes. Leaves on long petioles, reniform or heart-shaped. The flowers of Asarum, with rare exceptions, are inconspicuous, solitary, axillary, actinomorphic, the perianth bell-shaped, three-lobed. The recommended species are fully hardy.

Location: shade-tolerant.

Soil: prefer slightly moist, calcareous, loose soils.

Propagation of Asarum: by sowing seeds, by underground shoots and by rooted stem pieces. The best time to plant is late summer. The best method of propagation is division.

Uses of Asarum: as an ornamental foliage plant. This magnificent groundcover has only one drawback - slow growth. Asarum are very hardy, and many do not lose their leaves in winter; the leaves fall only after severe frosts.

Companions: beautiful in spring beside snowdrops. Asarums are very good when planted in clumps in shady rock garden spots. It pairs ideally with ferns, Solomon's seal (Polygonatum officinalis) and other shade-loving species.