Ultimate Native Ground Cover for Shade! Wild Ginger

[@BackyardEcology]

🦋🦋🦋🦋 Link to the Backyard Ecology recommendations page which includes the book mentioned in the video: www.backyardecology.net/recommendations/ 🦋🦋🦋🦋 🍓🍓🍓🍓 Learn about another native groundcover that pairs well with wild ginger - the native strawberries: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4OnZKugaqqqrNE 🍓🍓🍓🍓 🌸🌸🌸🌸 The native violets also pair well with wild ginger as a groundcover. Learn about native violets here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZCxnol6p6aXi7c 🌸🌸🌸🌸 This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

[@johnford7847]

Very interesting. I'm glad you included the toxicity; I was all psyched until that moment. I think I'll stick to wild strawberries.

[@BackyardEcology]

I don't think many know about the relatively recent studies into the toxicity of the plants in the aristolochiaceae which is why I included it. I'd always sheard it was edible, but when I started digging it appeared that's not the best idea.

[@Guishan_Lingyou]

I made ginger cookies with wild ginger as a kid in the eighties, but only once or twice. I guess I survived.

[@Idkwhy-jh7ke]

Your videos are so incredibly entertaining and educational. Thank you so much for spreading this incredible valuable information!

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you!

[@michelechristina7268]

I'd like to learn more about creating mudding spots to attract butterflies! Can you post some videos about that??!?😊

[@BackyardEcology]

Did one awhile back! You can view it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h560gHWgnp6opck

[@GaiaCarney]

Thanks! I adore my stand of wild ginger! It bounced back just fine from an early spring ice storm 🌱

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome! It is a very resilient plant!

[@piaonomata9220]

HOLY COW. Do you know how many foraging guides I've seen--up to and including my copy of the Peterson guide to edible plants--that give a full thumbs-up to eating A. canadense?? YIKES. We have a fairly robust little patch in our back yard, and I kept meaning to harvest and candy some of the rhizomes. Chronic procrastination may generally be unkind to me, but in this case I think it's my new best friend, because I WILL NOT be doing that now! A valuable service indeed. Thank you!!

[@BackyardEcology]

I think the discovery that it contains the same chemicals as other members of the pipevine family is fairly recent. The levels aren't as high as some of the pipevines, but I'd rather not take the chance.

[@loriedmundson782]

My Mother's day gift. Found your channel this morning. Thank you!

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy the channel.

[@rainbowconnected]

Thank you for the book recommendation, I've been trying to find pictures of native seedlings for ages! Also love the inclusion of other plants that do well with wild ginger. Super helpful info to be able to create diverse plant communities!

[@BackyardEcology]

Glad it was helpful!

[@coryjochim6029]

Just walked in from transplanting the bare roots that got delivered today! Must be an omen that they'll do well.

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome!

[@llamawerkz]

Where did you get your wild ginger from?

[@coryjochim6029]

@@llamawerkz Prarie moon Nursery

[@hermanhale9258]

When I was a kid I had a book that said something like, "I'm sure we have all seen butterflies gathered at puddles of horse pee in the road." I never had seen it. Well, well. Maybe I will get a chance to see something like that...

[@BackyardEcology]

Butterflies love a good puddle of pee...

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

You might be my favourite person. Thanks for another fab video. I just got some wild ginger and will definitely not eat it...but I will look forward to it filling in nicely in my shadier gardens! Thanks! 💚

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! You will love the ginger!

[@novampires223]

Also in Oregon, love this plant..

[@BackyardEcology]

Different species of Asarum, there are a few native to Oregon. Asarum canadense is only native to eastern North America. Quite similar in look and growth pattern though.

[@erinhellebuyck7527]

Thank you

[@awildapproach]

Fantastic video! I love this plant. I have in my backyard garden on the north side of my house with Christmas Fern, Wild Geranium, Strawberries, Wild Violets, Foamflower, and other native ferns. :)

[@BackyardEcology]

Sweet! Sounds like a great woodland native garden!

[@awildapproach]

@@BackyardEcology It really has been a nice thing to see from my kitchen window! Happy wildlife gardening y'all!

[@BackyardEcology]

@@awildapproach Thanks! You too!

[@mavnulsknlg]

What a fun and entertaining video. You made me chuckle out loud several times. Thanks for being so cheerful. 😂

[@BackyardEcology]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davehendricks4824]

I e got it all over my yard. Introduced it years ago. Along with red and white trilliums and bloodroot. Oh yea, and ramps!

[@BackyardEcology]

Nice! Bloodroot and trilliums grow on our farm, no ramps though. They are found in the next county east of us - and in some huge patches.

[@davehendricks4824]

@@BackyardEcology I got permission to dig up a small portion in a woods full of it. It spreads slowly too.

[@BackyardEcology]

@@davehendricks4824 Ramps seem to take their time, but they eventually will make a good sized colony.

[@klburt73]

another great video, Anthony; I sure enjoy them! Would you consider a video about ground covers for more dry soils? I need something to choke out weeds in those spots, too!

[@BackyardEcology]

I have a list going and plan to work them in as I can. Too many cool natives to get to!

[@klburt73]

@@BackyardEcology thanks, Anthony!

[@jk_22]

Wild geranium and wild strawberry are both supposed to be good for dry shade

[@BackyardEcology]

@@jk_22 Both of those species will require well drained but not dry soils to do their best.

[@jk_22]

@@BackyardEcology Sure, so would mixing in some compost or topsoil into my sandy soil help?

[@Hobbietone]

Another great informative video!!!!

[@BackyardEcology]

Glad you liked it!

[@andrewwerth8312]

I bought the Diboll & Cox book you recommended and it's excellent! One thing I can't find, though, is a legend explaining the colors used in the maps. They're similar but apparently not quite the same as BONAP (which has very confusing colors, making it hard to tell what's really native where...).

[@BackyardEcology]

Glad you like the book! I believe the maps are from BONAP or derived from them and use the same color key - dark green species present in state and native, light green species recorded in county, yellow species present but rare, and orange species extirpated but was recorded as present historically. Basically if the light green, yellow, or orange is where you are, the species has been recorded there. Maps don't always show the complete range of a species as it may just not have been recorded officially in a place it occurs. It can be confusing.

[@danielfegley2735]

I've seen wild ginger, but the only place I found it was along a creek in moist rich soil made of compost several inches thick in sade .

[@BackyardEcology]

It is super adaptable and I have seen it growing in places like you described to areas of exposed bedrock, and it is thriving in my backyard in an area of part shade with chert-clay loam soil.

[@jk_22]

Perfect timing, I just received an order of wild ginger bare roots that I plan to plant tomorrow

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome!

[@jk_22]

They’re sure taking their time to emerge…

[@BackyardEcology]

@@jk_22 They can be a bit slow sometimes. Don't give up on them yet!

[@jk_22]

I did find one starting to make its way through the pine needles but then accidentally stepped on it ☹️

[@BackyardEcology]

@@jk_22 It will very likely come back - ginger is one tough plant.

[@cpebud]

I really like the look of this, and I was wondering how it would pair with some small spring ephemerals like virginia bluebells or spring beauty

[@BackyardEcology]

Wild ginger would go well with either one!

[@RobertKaucher]

I'm gonna feast on the oleosome that is the like button.

[@BackyardEcology]

Nice! I love it!

[@bradlafferty]

Like your content! New sub.

[@BackyardEcology]

Thanks for the sub!

[@joangopin4022]

Where do you get your wild gimger? Do you just find it in the woods, or is there a native plant nursery that you buy it from ?

[@BackyardEcology]

We got ours from a friend that has a large bed of it that needed to be thinned. There are many native plant nurseries that carry it. Contact your state native plant society, most of them have a list of native plant nurseries.

[@hermanhale9258]

6:54 This plant can damage your kidneys.

[@BackyardEcology]

Yep. The amount of the chemicals that cause the damage is quite variable between wild ginger plants - some have very little, others quite a bit and since there is no known safe level it is probably best just not to eat it.