Asarum europaeum 'Apuseni Form'

Wild Ginger, Asarabacca Aristolochiaceae

A particularly handsome form of Asarabacca, selected from the Apuseni Mountains of Romania, distinguished by its substantial foliage and quietly elegant colouring. It forms a robust, slowly spreading carpet of large, matt-green, kidney-shaped evergreen leaves, rather than the glossy foliage often associated with the species. The leaves have a softly textured appearance, while the curious purple-red flowers remain tucked beneath them in spring, where they are very much for the observant gardener.

The Apuseni Mountains provide exactly the sort of habitat this species enjoys: cool deciduous woodland, rich humus and soils that remain reasonably moist without becoming waterlogged. In cultivation this form is remarkably useful beneath trees and shrubs, where it gradually knits itself into an excellent evergreen groundcover.

Asarabacca has a long European ethnobotanical history. Its aromatic rhizomes were traditionally employed in herbal medicine, particularly as an emetic and for respiratory and digestive complaints. These are historical uses only: Asarum contains potentially harmful aristolochic acids and should not be consumed or used medicinally.

The ‘Apuseni Form’ is a horticultural selection named for its Romanian provenance, rather than a formally published botanical cultivar.

Height: 10–15cm
Spread: 40–60cm
Flowering: March–May
Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
Best conditions: Partial to full shade; humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil.

Apuseni Mountains, Romania — a robust form with handsome, matt foliage and excellent woodland-garden potential.