Asarum epigynum Takasago Saishin

Asarum epigynum 'Takasago Saishin' is a very ornamental variety of wild ginger that is rarely cultivated but rather easy to acclimatise in the cool and shady areas of the garden. It eventually forms a superb and very dense evergreen ground cover, composed of glossy arrow-shaped leaves, heavily marbled with silver-grey on a green background. Its spring flowering, with small brown-purple flowers speckled with white, is often hidden under the foliage. This hardy perennial is valuable for beautifully vegetating light woodlands in cool soil.

Asarum epigynum 'Takasago Saishin' originates from a Taiwanese botanical species. All wild gingers belong to the Aristolochiaceae family, and are creeping cousins of climbing aristolochias, with which they share an unusual flowering. This wild ginger is a perennial plant that slowly forms a 15 cm (6 in) high carpet and spreads thanks to its rhizomatous roots. Its evergreen leaves somewhat resemble those of cyclamens. They are elongated and heart-shaped, measuring 4 to 9 cm (2 to 4 in) long and 2.5 to 6.5 cm (1 to 3 in) wide, and are arranged in pairs in tufts near the ground. Completely marbled with grey to silver-white on a more or less vibrant or dark green and grey background, their epidermis gently reflects light. Between March and April, solitary flowers measuring 2 to 2.5 cm (1 in) appear, with very wide tubes, close to the ground and somewhat hidden under the leaves. They are dark brown-purple, speckled with cream-yellow to white.

Just over 15 cm (6 in) in height, densely carpeting the ground, the 'Takasago Saishin' wild ginger will make an excellent ground cover in woodland areas. Its marbled foliage elegantly dresses the base of trees and shrubs. It will appreciate shaded exposures and fresh humus-rich soils in summer and will blend perfectly with other shade-loving perennials, such as Sanguinaria, Achimenes, Syneilesis, and Rohdea, or ferns. It is a hardy plant, and its foliage remains evergreen even in very low temperatures, especially under a thick layer of snow. It can easily be grown in a pot to be able to admire it up close and monitor any gastropod attacks.