Saruma henryi
upright wild ginger
A shade-loving, woodland garden perennial with branched, upright stems bearing pale green, heart-shaped leaves sometimes mottled and glossy, that resemble the foliage of cyclamen. Saruma (an anagram of Asarum – the true ‘wild ginger’) is softly-hairy, giving it a silvery appearance, especially in spring. The foliage emerges a rather curious purple-tinged olive green but makes the perfect foil for the fragrant, yellow, three-petalled flowers. These are produced at the branch tips intermittently from spring to summer and are distantly related to magnolias. If you don’t have a woodland, why not try underplanting shrubs and roses with Saruma henryi as part of a cottage or informal garden?
How to care for Saruma henryi:
Prepare the bed well by digging in lots of composted organic matter before you plant. For best results it is essential that the plants are kept well watered for the first year, particularly during warmer weather. Generally maintenance free, Saruma needs partial shade, reliable moisture and a humus-rich soil, so is a perfect woodlander. Cut back once foliage begins to yellow, later in the year, and lift and divide large clumps in late autumn or early spring.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.5m
Eventual spread:
1m
Position:
Light shade / shade
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
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