ASARUM maximum 'Ling Ling'

Description

Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling'

Height x Spread: 15cm x 30cm

This shade loving, ground cover plant is an enchanting little star of late winter and very early spring. The glossy deep green, heart shaped foliage has paler marble like marking and the extraordinary flowers are black, three lobed with a white face. It is no surprise that this is sometimes called the panda faced wild ginger. A.'Ling Ling' was named after a panda that was loaned to the US by China and became a firm favourite with visitors at The Smithsonian National Zoo until her death in 1992. She was the longest-lived captive Panda outside of China.

The unusual flowers appear in March and April and can be hidden by the foliage so grow it near to the front of the border or in a pot to make spotting them easier.

Happy even in deep shade it needs some good compost added to the soil when planting. Water gently until established. Not edible.