Flower profile

Reflexed wild ginger

Asarum reflexum

Reflexed wild ginger (Asarum reflexum) is a flowering plant in the Aristolochiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native to Missouri

Reflexed wild ginger is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Missouri it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

34states where USDA records it

1,122MO sightings*

5,102U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Missouri

Quick look

Asarum canadense, commonly known as Canada wild ginger, Canadian snakeroot, Indian Ginger, Coltsfoot, and Broad-Leaved Asarabacca, is a herbaceous, perennial plant. It should not be confused for Asarum reflexum, a closely related species, or Asarum acuminatum, a variety of A. canadense.
From Wikipedia's article Asarum canadense, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 34 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Missouri. ^NatureServe
In Missouri, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,122 research-grade sightings of it in Missouri, ranking #59 among the 177 flowers on our Missouri list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Missouri, most flowering sightings come in April–May.

Flowering records by month in Missouri (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (63 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: TNR See NatureServe for what TNR means. ^NatureServe
Missouri: Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. ^{3 CSR 10-4.111}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MA (S1), SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records reflexed wild ginger in 34 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Missouri counties with USDA records: Adair, Andrew, Audrain, Barry, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Carter, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Stoddard, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Worth, Wright.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Asarum acuminatum, Asarum rubrocinctum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1088 counties across 32 states; the most are in Kentucky (106), Missouri (103), Illinois (83).

Other Asarum on Bloomipedia (4): Little brown jugs, Western wild ginger, Little heartleaf, Variable-leaf heartleaf.

More from the Aristolochiaceae family (5 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Southwestern pipevine.

More Missouri flowers

Amur honeysuckle

Lonicera maackii

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MO: April–May

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in MO: April–May

Virginia springbeauty

Claytonia virginica

Native

🌼 Blooms in MO: March–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASCA.
iNaturalist, Asarum reflexum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Asarum canadense (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Asarum reflexum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Zakqary Roy via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.