31 Really useful Native Crops for the Northwest

The northwestern United States is extraordinarily numerous, encompassing majestic temperate rainforests and high-elevation dry deserts, tall mountaintops, coastal areas, and every thing in between. Familiarize your self with the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to be taught which zone you reside in; this can be a really useful first step as you begin selecting the very best Northwest native vegetation in your backyard. 

Native vegetation have developed naturally inside a area and are nicely tailored to the native rising situations. Some advantages of gardening with native vegetation are that they use much less water and fewer chemical compounds than non-native species. Native vegetation additionally develop nicely collectively, improve the pure atmosphere, and supply precious sources of meals and shelter for native wildlife. 

You’ll be able to develop a big native or very small native backyard or combine each native and non-native species. Simply keep away from rising invasive species in your backyard. 

Maintain studying for extra particulars about 31 native vegetation, from tall timber to floor covers, that you could develop in a Northwestern backyard.

Timber

In case your yard is massive sufficient, contemplate a local tree. Timber significantly improve your panorama. They supply shade and shelter, supply meals for wildlife, and add construction to your backyard. Better of all, nonetheless, is that timber are lovely and you’ll get pleasure from all of them yr!

Bitter Cherry

	botanical identify Prunus emarginata
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 25 – 30 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

Bitter cherry, typically known as wild cherry or quinine cherry, is a small deciduous tree native to western North America. Bitter cherry spreads by root suckers and kinds dense thickets. Permit these timber to naturalize as a hedge or prune them to isolate and develop particular person timber.

In spring, bitter cherry blooms with clusters of showy white flowers that entice hummingbirds and bug pollinators. By mid-summer, the small pink fruits make a superb snack for hungry birds and different wildlife. The fruits are small and bitter however showy and engaging on the tree. 

Oregon Crabapple

	botanical identify Malus fusca
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 25 – 30 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

The Oregon crabapple, additionally known as the western crabapple, is a deciduous tree native to western North America. This thicket-forming small tree will be allowed to naturalize and type a pure hedge, or you’ll be able to prune extras to isolate particular person stems. Develop Oregon crabapple in a location with moist soil, akin to alongside a stream or wetland.

Within the spring, Oregon crabapple blooms with clusters of showy, white, aromatic flowers. The flowers entice hummingbirds and insect pollinators. In the summertime, small, oval-shaped reddish-orange fruits make a superb meals supply for birds and small mammals. Within the fall, you’ll be able to benefit from the engaging orange foliage. 

Pacific Dogwood

	botanical identify Cornus nuttallii
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 20 – 40 ft
	hardiness zones 7 – 9

The Pacific dogwood is a deciduous tree native to western North America. It grows naturally in moist woodlands. Develop it in full solar to partial shade with medium moisture and well-drained soil. It is a good tree to develop alongside a woodland edge or as a central accent plant.

Pacific dogwood blooms within the spring with showy white flowers that entice pollinators. Within the late summer time into fall, you will note small, spherical pink fruits which might be a favourite of foraging birds. This tree is nice for a wildlife-friendly backyard and a larval host plant for a number of moth species. 

Shore Pine

	botanical identify Pinus contorta var. contorta
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 20 – 50 ft
	hardiness zones 6 – 8

Shore pine, also referred to as seaside pine, is an easy-to-grow evergreen tree native to western North America. It grows greatest in full solar however isn’t too choosy about soil situations. This tree may be very adaptable.  

Shore pine has quick needles and produces pine cones. It offers good habitat and foraging alternatives for birds. It additionally helps helpful bugs and is a larval host plant for a number of species of butterflies and moths. This tree makes a superb addition to a bird-friendly backyard. Shore pine develops a lovely, barely curved trunk, making a superb shade tree.  

Vine Maple

	botanical identify Acer circinatum
	solar necessities Full solar to full shade
	top 20-25 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

Vine maple is a small tree or massive shrub native to western North America. It’s simple to develop and tolerates numerous environmental situations, from full solar to full shade. It prefers a shaded location with moist, well-drained soil. 

The expansion habitat of vine maple varies relying on the place it’s grown. It’s going to develop a extra shrub-like type in a sunny location, whereas in a shaded space, it’s going to sprawl extra. Within the springtime, vine maple blooms with unfastened, dangling clusters of fairly pink and white flowers. Within the fall, the leaves placed on a showy show of yellow, orange, and pink.

Shrubs

Shrubs will be lovely and helpful additions to your panorama. When you have room for a single shrub or a grouping of shrubs, you’ll be able to add construction, top, and year-round curiosity to your yard. Many shrubs have lovely flowers and attention-grabbing foliage, making them very interesting within the panorama. Shrubs are additionally great vegetation for attracting birds and pollinators. 

Evergreen Huckleberry

	botanical identify Vaccinium ovatum
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 4 – 8 ft
	hardiness zones 7 – 9

Evergreen huckleberry, also referred to as California huckleberry, is a medium-sized evergreen shrub native to western North America. It grows greatest in full solar or partial shade with medium moisture and well-drained soil. Huckleberry is comparatively slow-growing and makes a really engaging foliage plant. 

This easy-to-grow shrub blooms from late spring into summer time. The showy flowers are white to pink and bell-like. The flowers entice hummingbirds and bug pollinators. In late summer time, these vegetation bear an abundance of small pink fruits that birds adore. The fruits are fairly tart however make good jams, jellies, and pies. 

Pacific Ninebark

	botanical identify Physocarpus capitatus
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 8 – 12 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 10

The Pacific ninebark is a big deciduous shrub native to western North America, the place it grows alongside streams and in moist woodlands. This engaging shrub is straightforward to develop in full solar to partial shade with persistently moist soil. This may be a superb plant for rain gardens or different slow-draining areas.

Pacific ninebark blooms in late spring. Rounded clusters of small white flowers entice pollinators. Its showy reddish fruits present meals for foraging birds and small mammals. By late summer time and into fall, because the foliage turns brown, the seed heads stay on the plant in attention-grabbing brown plenty, offering continued curiosity within the backyard.

Crimson Elderberry

	botanical identify Sambucus racemosa
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 8 – 20 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 7

Crimson elderberry is a big deciduous shrub native all through a lot of North America. It’s simple to develop and particularly likes {a partially} shaded location with moist soil. Crimson elderberry spreads readily by root suckers and can type a dense colony in excellent situations. Whilst you can enable it to unfold and naturalize, you can even prune any undesirable suckers to assist it preserve a extra managed development sample.

Crimson elderberry is a lovely panorama plant. Within the spring, it blooms with massive clusters of aromatic white flowers that entice butterflies. After flowering, bunches of small pink fruits make a showy show and are a lot liked by birds. The fruits have to be cooked earlier than human consumption however can be utilized to make scrumptious jams and preserves. 

Crimson-Flowering Currant

	botanical identify Ribes sanguineum var. sanguineum
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 4 – 10 ft
	hardiness zones 6 – 8

Searching for a wonderful pollinator-friendly shrub in your panorama? The red-flowering currant is a medium to large-sized deciduous shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. It grows greatest in full solar with moist, well-drained soil. It’s going to develop in partial shade however might not flower or fruit as abundantly as vegetation grown in full solar. As soon as established, it’s tolerant of occasional dry soil situations. 

Crimson currant is straightforward to develop and a welcome addition to the panorama. Within the early spring, it blooms with drooping clusters of gorgeous pink flowers which might be engaging to hummingbirds and pollinators. After flowering, from late summer time into fall, clusters of darkish bluish-purple fruits type, attracting birds and small mammals. Within the fall, the leaves flip a muted yellow-bronze coloration. 

Salmonberry

	botanical identify Rubus spectabilis
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 4 – 10 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

Salmonberry is a deciduous shrub native to western North America, the place it’s discovered rising in moist forests with dappled shade. It makes an attention-grabbing plant for a hedge or understory woodland edge within the house panorama, so long as it might get pleasure from a location with moist soil. 

Within the late spring or early summer time, salmonberry blooms with lovely darkish pink flowers. The flowers entice hummingbirds, pollinators, and quite a few different helpful bugs.

By early to mid-summer, salmonberry bears edible fruits that birds like to eat. The fruits ripen to a really showy, vibrant yellow-orange coloration. These thorny vegetation will type thickets however nonetheless make an attention-grabbing landscaping plant. 

Tall Oregon Grape

	botanical identify Mahonia aquifolium
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 5 – 8 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

The tall Oregon grape is a medium-sized evergreen shrub. This easy-to-grow plant is native to the Pacific Northwest and thrives in partial shade and moist soil. It is a nice plant for a shaded woodland backyard or in a shaded hedge planting. Crops will unfold by rhizomes, making a year-round wall of greenery.

Oregon grape has thickened, shiny leaves. Within the early spring, tall Oregon grape blooms with vibrant yellow flower clusters that entice hummingbirds and helpful bugs.

After flowering, Oregon grape develops its namesake clusters of grape-like darkish bluish-purple berries. These fruits have a skinny, dusty-white coating and cling from engaging reddish stems. Birds will come to feed on the berries.

Wildflowers

A few of the best native vegetation to develop are wildflowers and grasses. Many of those vegetation are simple to begin from seed and might offer you years of colourful magnificence. Flowers are available in all sizes and styles, and you’ll find flowering vegetation that bloom all through the rising season. You’ll be able to assist your panorama come alive and flourish by choosing a wide range of native wildflowers. 

Beargrass

	botanical identify Xerophyllum tenax
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 5 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

Beargrass, or Indian basket grass, is an evergreen herbaceous perennial native to western North America. Beargrass likes full solar or partial shade and makes a superb plant for a shade backyard or woodland edge. It loves dry to medium-moisture soil and can unfold over time to type colonies. 

Beargrass isn’t really a grass, though it develops tall stems lined with skinny, grass-like leaves. On the prime of the stem, in early to mid-summer, dense flower spikes burst into bloom, trying like white bottle brushes. The flowers are aromatic and really showy, particularly in massive clusters. This plant appears spectacular throughout peak bloom, particularly when allowed to develop in dense colonies.

Cascade Beardtongue

	botanical identify Penstemon serrulatus
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 1 – 2 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 9

The cascade beardtongue, or cascade penstemon, is an herbaceous perennial native to the Pacific Northwest. This plant grows greatest with full solar and moist, well-drained soil. Develop it in your pollinator backyard, cottage backyard, or alongside the sting of a wetland the place it might benefit from the moist soil situations. 

Cascade beardtongue is a wonderful plant that may develop right into a rounded, shrubby type. It blooms within the spring with spectacular purple-blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Hummingbirds and native bees love the flowers and can spend plenty of time checking them out and gathering nectar and pollen. The leaves are engaging and lance-like and can keep semi-evergreen in hotter areas. 

False Solomon’s Seal

	botanical identify Maianthemum racemosum
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 1 – 3 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 8

False Solomon’s seal is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to moist woodlands all through North America. This plant is straightforward to develop and tolerant of many different rising situations. It favors a shade backyard location with medium-moisture soil.

False Solomon’s seal blooms within the late spring with tiny, aromatic white flowers showing on the finish of the gracefully arched leafy stems. Clusters of small, spherical, vibrant pink fruits observe the flowers. These vegetation unfold readily by rhizomes, growing into engaging colonies. Permit your false Solomon’s seal to naturalize and unfold for essentially the most spectacular visible attraction. 

Fringe Cup

	botanical identify Tellima grandiflora
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 1 – 2.5 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

Fringe cup, also referred to as bigflower tellima, is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to western North America. This plant grows in moist woodlands, significantly in evergreen forests. It’s simple to develop and appreciates a shade backyard location with moist, barely acidic soil. 

Fringe cup has uncommon flowers that develop on tall, unfastened spikes. The flowers are white or pink and cup-like with skinny, filament-like extensions from the ends of the petals. The flowers entice pollinators and hummingbirds.

These vegetation are simple to begin from seed and can unfold readily by self-seeding, forming engaging colonies. If you end up with too many fringe cup vegetation, they’re simple to regulate by eradicating any extra seedlings every spring. 

Globe Gilia

	botanical identify Gilia capitata
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 1 – 3 ft
	hardiness zones 2 – 11

The globe gilia, also referred to as blue subject gilia, is an annual wildflower native to western North America. It’s simple to develop from seed and can self-seed itself readily in excellent situations, spreading to type dense colonies. Develop it in full solar with medium-moisture, well-drained soil. 

Globe gilia grows rapidly and blooms within the springtime. The spherical purple-blue flower clusters entice an abundance of bees and butterflies, making this a beautiful addition to your pollinator-friendly backyard.

Deadhead spent flowers to scale back self-seeding or be ready to drag a few of the further seedlings that sprout every spring. You don’t have to do something particular to the seeds; simply sow them in your backyard in late winter or very early spring, and they’ll naturally germinate and develop.

Giant Camas

	botanical identify Camassia leichtlinii
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 1 – 3 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 7

Giant camas is a Northwest native bulb. In its pure habitat, it grows in meadows, prairies, and moist hillsides. You’ll be able to develop camas in a sunny location with moist soil within the house panorama. These are good flowers for a little bit of showy, early-season curiosity.

These vegetation have lovely spring blooms, however the leaves die again by mid to late summer time, so you’ll in all probability wish to develop them with another vegetation to assist fill within the area later within the rising season. The showy star-shaped flowers develop on unfastened spikes above grass-like leaves. Whereas not in bloom, camas will be simply mistaken for small clumps of grass.

Lewis’ Monkeyflower

	botanical identify Mimulus lewisii
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 0.75 – 2.5 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

Lewis’ monkeyflower, also referred to as the good purple monkeyflower, is an herbaceous perennial native to western North America. Develop it in a sunny panorama with consistently moist soil.

This plant likes increased elevations with cool temperatures and loads of water. For those who occur to stay in a high-elevation space, develop Lewis’ monkeyflower in your pollinator backyard or hummingbird-friendly backyard. For those who stay someplace sizzling and dry, you’ll have higher luck rising one thing else.

Lewis’ monkeyflower blooms within the summertime. The flowers are vibrant pink and very showy. Crops will naturalize and unfold in excellent situations to type lovely colonies. Crops are simply began from seed and can readily self-seed. If you end up with too many monkeyflowers, they’re simple to regulate by annual thinning.

Nodding Onion

	botanical identify Allium cernuum
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 0.5 – 2 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

The nodding onion grows from a small bulb. It typically grows in open woodlands and grasslands in its native Northwest habitat.

Within the house panorama, place it in full solar with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. Nodding onion is straightforward to develop. Guarantee it doesn’t sit in boggy soil, or the bulb will rot.

Develop your nodding onion in a pocket prairie or moist rock backyard setting. It grows skinny, grass-like leaves with a particular onion scent when crushed. The leaves are recent within the spring however typically die again by mid to late summer time. Within the springtime, nodding onion blooms by sending up a protracted, gracefully nodding flower stalk. The unfastened clusters of pale pink flowers entice pollinators and helpful bugs.

Rose Checker Mallow

	botanical identify Sidalcea malviflora
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 1.5 – 2.5 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

Rose checker mallow, also referred to as checker bloom, is an herbaceous perennial native to Oregon and California. It grows naturally in sunny, dry situations on grassy slopes or in dry open woodlands. Within the house backyard, develop it in full solar to partial shade with medium-moisture soil.  

Rose checker mallow is straightforward to begin from seed and can self-seed in excellent situations. It blooms within the spring and summer time with fairly pink flowers that entice pollinators and helpful bugs.

The rose checker mallow can also be a larval host plant for a number of species of butterflies. The leaves type engaging low-growing rosettes, and when a number of vegetation are grown collectively, they type a superb floor cowl. 

Sea Thrift

	botanical identify Armeria maritima
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 0.5 – 1 foot
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

Sea thrift, or sea pink, is a Northwest native flower that sometimes grows alongside coastal habitats. In the appropriate situations, sea thrift will be an easy-to-grow perennial. Within the house backyard, it might be a welcome addition to a xeriscape or rock backyard with full solar and really well-drained soil. 

Sea thrift is evergreen, offering year-round curiosity to the backyard. The quick, grass-like leaves type a dense, rounded clump. From spring into early summer time, flower stalks attain above the leaves and bloom with clusters of vibrant pink flowers. The flowers entice an assortment of pollinators and different helpful bugs. 

Showy Milkweed

	botanical identify Asclepias speciosa
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 4 – 6 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 9

Showy milkweed is a superb plant in your butterfly and pollinator-friendly backyard. It’s the larval host plant for the monarch butterfly, and the flowers entice quite a few different pollinators and helpful bugs to your backyard. Flowers bloom all through the summer time months and are massive clusters of pale pink blossoms. Whereas all milkweed species are helpful, it’s vital to develop a spread like showy milkweed, which is native to the Northwest.

Milkweed vegetation are simple to develop from seed and can self-seed in excellent situations. Develop these vegetation in full solar with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil.

Milkweeds develop lengthy taproots to assist them face up to drought situations, however they’re tough to transplant as soon as established. Showy milkweed is an efficient plant for a container backyard. 

Tufted Hairgrass

	botanical identify Deschampsia cespitosa
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 2 – 3 ft
	hardiness zones 4 – 9

Tufted hairgrass, additionally typically known as tussock grass, is a Northwest native, perennial, clump-forming grass. This plant prefers cooler climates with full solar and moist soil. It tolerates moist soil and could be a superb plant to develop close to a wetland or stream edge.

Dense clumps of skinny leaves make this plant a superb decorative within the panorama. Develop it in a naturalized space and permit it to unfold freely for fabulous erosion management.

The blooming panicles show a mixture of inexperienced, white, and pink flowers and seeds, making a refined however engaging fall show. Hungry birds will come to forage on the seeds. 

Western Columbine

	botanical identify Aquilegia formosa
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 2 – 3 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 7

Western columbine is a really showy perennial wildflower native to a widespread area of the American Northwest. This plant grows in open woodlands and shaded grasslands with moist soil. As a landscaping plant, western columbine is straightforward to develop in any location with partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. 

Western columbine begins readily from seed and can self-seed within the backyard. The pink and yellow flowers have an uncommon form and develop dangling from tall upright stems.

The flowers are a  favourite of hummingbirds. The leaves are engaging and can proceed to offer their visible attraction to your shade backyard via the summer time. In sunnier and warmer areas, leaves will die again prematurely however ought to regrow the next spring.

Yarrow

	botanical identify Achillea millefolium
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 1 – 2 ft
	hardiness zones 3 – 9

Yarrow is a standard and widespread perennial plant additionally native to the Northwest. There are quite a few cultivars with extra colourful flowers in pink, pink, yellow, and orange, however the native wild yarrow has white flowers. The flowers bloom within the spring and summer time months and are an awesome addition to your pollinator backyard as a result of they may entice loads of butterflies, bees, and different helpful bugs.

Yarrow has low-growing, fern-like foliage. This plant can be utilized as a floor cowl and can unfold to fill in smaller areas. Any undesirable unfold will be simply trimmed and eliminated. Yarrow can also be a superb candidate for container gardening and xeriscaping. Develop your yarrow in full solar to partial shade with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. 

Floor Covers

Floor covers are very helpful within the house panorama. Anywhere with naked floor, significantly round borders, edges, and walkways, can profit from a low-growing floor cowl plant. Some floor covers keep very small and compact, whereas others unfold freely, so you’ll be able to select the kind of vegetation that work greatest in your particular gardening wants. Many Northwest native floor covers supply magnificence and performance.

Bearberry

	botanical identify Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
	solar necessities Full solar
	top 0.5 – 0.75 foot
	hardiness zones 4 – 8

Bearberry, additionally known as kinnickinnick, is a small evergreen Northwest native shrub that’s widespread all through the cooler areas of North America. It’s simple to develop and stays very low to the bottom, making it a superb floor cowl. Develop it in full solar with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. 

Bearberry blooms within the springtime with cheerful pink flower clusters. The flowers entice hummingbirds, pollinators, and different helpful bugs. By summer time, the fertilized flowers grow to be vibrant pink berries that entice birds and different wildlife. As a result of this plant has evergreen foliage, you’ll be able to get pleasure from all of it yr lengthy, so make sure to plant it in a spot the place it may be most appreciated.

Coastal Strawberry

	botanical identify Fragaria chiloensis
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 4 – 9
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

The coastal strawberry, or seaside strawberry, is an evergreen Northwest native floor cowl. This plant thrives in full solar to gentle shade with persistently moist, well-drained soil. In its pure habitat, it typically grows within the sand, therefore its frequent identify. 

Coastal strawberry blooms within the spring. The easy, white, five-petaled flowers will entice many pollinators. By summer time, vegetation produce scrumptious, candy, pink fruits. Birds and other people get pleasure from consuming the fruits. You’ll be able to eat them uncooked or use them for pies and preserves. Coastal strawberry vegetation unfold freely by lengthy runners, permitting them to turn into an efficient floor cowl. 

Inside-out Flower

	botanical identify Vancouveria hexandra
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 0.5 – 1.5 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 8

Inside-out flower is a Northwest native perennial wildflower. This plant grows naturally in shaded forests. Within the house panorama, it makes a superb floor cowl for a woodland shade backyard with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. 

Inside-out flower is straightforward to develop and never bothered by searching deer. The small white flowers are loosely spaced on tall, skinny flowering stalks and entice helpful bugs. Because the flowers are pretty inconspicuous, the inside-out flower is greatest used as a foliage plant. The foliage is interesting and grows in low rosettes. Develop a number of collectively for the very best impact. 

Maidenhair Spleenwort

	botanical identify Asplenium trichomanes
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 0.5 – 1 foot
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

Maidenhair spleenwort is an evergreen fern that’s widespread all through North America. It’s sometimes discovered rising in shaded forests with rocky outcroppings. Within the house backyard, it makes a superb addition to a shade backyard or shaded nook of your rock backyard. 

Maidenhair spleenwort is pretty simple to develop and can unfold by rhizomes, growing small colonies in excellent habitats. The skinny fronds look nice all year long and supply year-round curiosity. Ferns don’t produce flowers however make very precious and engaging foliage vegetation. 

Oregon Stonecrop

	botanical identify Sedum oreganum
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	top 0.25 – 0.5 ft
	hardiness zones 5 – 9

This Northwest native sometimes grows in rocky habitats, akin to alongside bluffs and rocky outcroppings. Within the house backyard, use it in a xeriscape or rock backyard in a sunny location with dry, well-drained soil. 

Oregon stonecrop is an easy-to-grow floor cowl. It stays very low to the bottom and creeps alongside, spreading by vegetative rooting alongside its sprawling stems. The small, rounded, succulent leaves are evergreen. Plenty of very showy, vibrant yellow flowers bloom in the summertime and entice pollinators.

Wild Ginger 

	botanical identify Asarum caudatum
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	top 0.5 foot
	hardiness zones 6 – 10

This considerably uncommon plant makes a superb floor cowl. This species of untamed ginger is native to the Pacific coast of North America. It grows naturally in moist, shaded forests. Wild ginger is straightforward to develop within the house backyard. It is a fabulous plant for a shade backyard with common soil moisture. 

Wild ginger spreads freely by thick rhizomes, from which the leaves emerge. Flowers bloom on the base of the leaves, at floor stage. The flowers are maroon-red with three elongated petals. They entice helpful bugs however are tough to see except you deliberately search for them. The leaves are engaging and heart-shaped.