Plant Description
Asarum caudatum
This mat-forming groundcover grows less than 1 ft. tall but up to 3 ft. wide. The main stem creeps along the ground with two leaves growing from each stem node. The large, heart-shaped, dark-green, persistent leaves hide the unusual, fuzzy, reddish-brown to greenish-yellow flowers borne from lower leaf axils. The brown-purplish to yellowish or greenish flower is hidden by heart-shaped leaves growing in pairs from trailing, rooting stems that form dense patches.
A maroon-red flower with three petals, each with a long tail, over a heart-shaped green leaf.
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
| Characteristic | Plant Information |
|---|---|
| Height | 0-1 ft |
| Growth Rate | 2-5 years to maturity |
| Life Span | Perennial |
| Moisture Use | Consistent moisture |
| Drought Tolerance | Tolerant after establishment |
| Deer Browse | No |
| Wildlife Value | Attractive to beetles, ants, and small mammals |
| Resprout Ability | Will only regrow from seed after fire |
| Hardiness | USDA Zones 7-9 |
| Bloom Time | March-August |
| Bloom Color | Variable – brown, maroon, red, green |
| Habitat Type | Woodlands |
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
| Classification | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Clade | Angiosperms |
| Order | Piperales |
| Family | Aristolochiaceae |
| Genus | Asarum |
| Species | A. caudatum |
