Bloomipedia
Western wild ginger (Asarum caudatum)
Photo: elik03 via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Western wild ginger

Asarum caudatum

Native to Oregon

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

5states
2,063OR sightings*
7,844U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Oregon

Quick look

Asarum caudatum is a plant native to rich moist forests of western North America. It has heart-shaped leaves and a three-lobed purplish flower.

  • 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 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,063 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #82 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

Western wild ginger gift ideas

Handmade western wild ginger gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Western wild ginger art print

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When does it bloom?

In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in April–July.

Flowering records by month in Oregon (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (259 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
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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 Western wild ginger in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

More Oregon flowers

Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum)

Pacific trillium

Trillium ovatum

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🌼 Blooms in OR: March–May
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–July
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

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🌼 Blooms in OR: April–July

Sources