Asarum

Wild gingers are generally evergreen perennials, carpeting the ground with their heart shaped, glossy or hairy heart-shaped leaves. Once on your hands and knees, hiding amongst the foliage, are the quirky, small pitcher shaped flowers, which can come in various red to cream shades, sometimes with strap-like elongated petals. They thrive in shade, even dry, but would prefer a little more moisture. The best way to grow the more cultivated forms (over 200 varieties have been developed in Japan) are in pots, where you can protect them from invading molluscs and it's easier to appreciate the patterned foliage and intricate flowers at eye level! If you cannot live with holes in the leaves, the control of slug 'pests' is best left to natural predators such as amphibians and ground-beetles rather than poisoning the world in pursuit of 'perfection'. Forming dense ground cover, the leaves do have some value in water-retention within the garden.