The Leaf in the Litter
Largeflower heartleaf (Hexastylis shuttleworthii) with flowers and new leaves in spring.
Some plants go dormant in the winter, and some stay evergreen. Evergreen gingers in the genus Hexastylis appear to do just a little of both. A robust display of thick green leaves in summer dwindles to just a few over the winter, sometimes leaving only one leaf peeking through the litter of leaves from deciduous trees above.
There are four species of Hexastylis native to Georgia. Two are fairly widespread (and certainly more available for purchase) and I’ll talk about them here: Hexastylis arifolia (heartleaf ginger but often called little brown jug and our most widespread species) and H. shuttleworthii (largeflower heartleaf). Two are found only in North Georgia: H. heterophylla (called variable leaf ginger) and H. virginica (Virginia heartleaf). All are modest perennials whose flowers grow at the base of the plant, requiring one to push away the surrounding leaf litter to see them.
Little brown jug is often found on GNPS rescues in the metro Atlanta area. Facilitators try to convince new rescuers to save such a modest looking plant; we know that, given a good woodland home, it will grow into a handsome clump. Largeflower heartleaf is one that you might find at spring plant sales; the cultivar Hexastylis shuttleworthii var. harperi ‘Callaway’ is often propagated and sold. Apparently it was originally discovered in Pine Mountain. Both species do well from division, making it a nice plant to share with friends.
If you’d like to have a bit of green in your winter shade garden, consider adding Hexastylis to your wish list. Make sure you get what you’re looking for: the deciduous wild ginger, Asarum canadense, is also sold, but it won’t be green in winter.
Hexastylis showing its winter foliage: H. arifolia (left) and H. shuttleworthii (right).
