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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Hexastylis arifolia var. arifolia

Hexastylis arifolia (Michx.) Small var. arifolia

Heart-leaf Ginger, Heart-leaf Little Brown Jug, Little Brown Jug

Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort Family)

Synonym(s): Asarum arifolium

USDA Symbol: HEARA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A low, evergreen herb, 3-6 in., the leaves generally triangular in outline. The solitary red-brown flowers are thick and fleshy, hidden under the leaves.

Makes a good ground cover.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TN , VA
Native Distribution: FL to LA, n. on Coastal Plain to s. VA & inland to KY
Native Habitat: Moist to dry woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist to drier soils.
Conditions Comments: Makes a good groundcover.

Propagation

Description: Increase by division.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hexastylis arifolia var. arifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hexastylis arifolia var. arifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hexastylis arifolia var. arifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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