Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Aristolochiaceae

Genus:

Asarum

Species:

Asarum lewisii

USDA Symbol:

HELE2

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:

brown, maroon

Ground Cover:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers shaded forest floors

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds require darkness for germination and benefit from fresh seed collection. Germination can be slow and erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI