Description

Wild ginger is found in shady, moist settings from Santa Clara County to British Columbia. The rounded, heart-shaped leaves creep along the ground as the plant spreads by rhizomes. An unusual, tri-tipped flower - usually maroon – forms close to the ground but is usually obscured by the foliage. Once established, ginger root can be tolerant of predominantly dry conditions as long as shade is provided. On the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, for instance, one finds it under redwoods in the Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, an area with limited fog drip. Regular water is appreciated, of course. I have found ginger root sensitive to hard water in a nursery setting. The plants die back to the rhizome and even disappear. Hand watering with distilled water resolved the issue. I have not tested this with plants in the landscape, but keep it in mind if your plants fail to thrive.