Wild Ginger is a low, spreading ground cover of eastern hardwood forests, with heart-shaped leaves and a hidden brownish-red flower near the soil surface in spring. The aromatic roots smell and taste like culinary ginger, though the plants are not related. Ants disperse its seeds via elaiosomes, and the flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats.
Best time to see a Wild Ginger
The best time to see a Wild Ginger is April–May, when about 81% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 8,806 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Wild Ginger sightings near you
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