Asarum pulchellum

Chinese Wild Ginger Aristolochiaceae

Some plants hide their flowers so well you could be forgiven for thinking they had forgotten to make them. Asarum pulchellum is a beautiful Chinese wild ginger, forming low mats of heart-shaped, softly hairy leaves beneath which its curious purple, bell-shaped flowers appear almost at ground level. Native to moist woodland and rocky places in central and southern China, including Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei and Anhui, it grows naturally at around 1,300–2,300m. 

Known in Chinese as Changmao Xixin, it has a long history as a local medicinal herb. Traditional uses include preparations for colds, coughs, rheumatic pains and stomach complaints. However, this is very much a plant to admire rather than experiment with medicinally: Asarum contains potentially toxic compounds, including aristolochic acids. 

A superb woodland groundcover for the collector, with its curious flowers providing a reward for anyone prepared to get down on their hands and knees.

Height: 10–15cm

Spread: 20–30cm

Hardiness : H5