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    Second-favorite groundcover--European ginger (Asarum europaeum)

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Groundskeeper replied about 3 years ago
This is a slow-creeping groundcover that grows well in heavy shade and partial shade. The leaves are softly glossy so they reflect the sky. On days with white clouds the highlights on the leaves look like the ones in the photograph. On days of blue sky, the highlights are blue, which looks great in a shady spot, especially alongside small gold-leaved hostas. Hardy for me, Zone 5. Ants or beetles carry the seeds around, so new plants appear here and there over the years. I watch for the seedlings in spring and move them to new spots in the shade. Free plants are so satisfying!
irxprt replied almost 3 years ago
I just planted European ginger...it is lovely, isn't it?
Groundskeeper replied almost 3 years ago
Yes. It's lovely. My few plants have at last reached the age where they not only flower heavily in spring but send the seeds here and there to start new patches. The flowers lie flat on the ground, so ants and beetles can crawl in and carry away the seeds (I think).

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