Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, wild ginger is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing wild ginger, also called snakeroot.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Wild Ginger Belong To?
Wild ginger (Asarum spp.) belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family, also known as the birthwort family.
Some of its relatives include birthwort, saruma, and pipevine.
It is not botanically related to ginger, although it is used as a substitute for ginger in both culinary and herbal preparations. See our Simple Uses for Wild Ginger article here for examples.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Wild Ginger?
The minimum container size recommended for a young wild ginger plant is 5 gallons.
The minimum container size recommended for a mature wild ginger plant is 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide.
Wild ginger is best planted directly in the ground, but it will survive in containers of these sizes if other required growing conditions are present.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Wild Ginger?
Some of wild ginger's best companions are as follows:
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Wild Ginger?
Wild ginger is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with wild ginger are as follows:
- Peppers such as poblano and bell pepper
- Eggplant
What Soil Conditions Does Wild Ginger Need?
Wild ginger prefers rich, moist yet well-draining, neutral to acidic soil.
How Long Does Wild Ginger Take to Germinate?
Wild ginger takes 7-20 days to germinate at a temperature of 60-65°F in a controlled environment.
However, it can also be direct-sown in late winter for spring germination. Temperatures at this time of year are likely to be lower than the 60-65°F mentioned above. But this is the most reliable method and is also closer to the method wild ginger uses to reproduce in the wild.
How Much Sun Does Wild Ginger Need?
Wild ginger grows best in part shade to full shade. It is native to woodland environments, so it thrives in shade.
Sun recommendations can vary by region.
How Much Water Does Wild Ginger Need?
Wild ginger needs 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Wild Ginger?
Wild ginger grows fastest in temperatures of 45-75°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by species and other conditions.
How Tall Does Wild Ginger Get?
The average height of wild ginger is 4-12 feet.
Is Wild Ginger Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Wild ginger is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
How Does Wild Ginger Reproduce?
Wild ginger reproduces by rhizome (root) division and by seed.
How Much Wild Ginger is Produced Per Plant?
For wild ginger, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and species.
Most wild ginger rhizomes grow 6-8 inches in all directions each year.
Can Wild Ginger Be Ingested?
Wild ginger rhizomes (roots) are edible.
Wild ginger rhizomes (roots) have tonic and carminative properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea (decoctions) and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:2 at 75% alcohol is suggested for a fresh wild ginger root tincture. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:3 at 50-75% alcohol is suggested for a fresh wild ginger root tincture.
Contact dermatitis is commonly reported after touching wild ginger leaves. Be sure to wear gloves when handling this plant.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting wild ginger roots.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of wild ginger rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for wild ginger here!
Wild ginger is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: