Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Aristolochiaceae

Genus:

Asarum

Species:

Asarum contractum

USDA Symbol:

HECO19

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

15 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

maroon, brown

Ground Cover:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

small mammals, ground beetles

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers shaded woodland environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds require darkness and consistent moisture for germination. Germination can be slow and erratic even with proper stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI