Wild ginger

Wild ginger was present on the island of Manhattan prior to European contact. It has more than 94 documented uses in the Native American Ethnobotany database—the most of any plant in Mellon’s garden—due in part to its wide distribution across the eastern United States. In addition to treating colds and other ailments, its roots can be used to season foods, much like Zingiber officinale, the ginger we are more accustomed to using in our own kitchens. While it does bloom in the spring with low-to-the-ground purple flowers, it is most usually grown for its lush evergreen foliage.