Arrowhead Wild Ginger occupies a specific ecological niche that few plants are willing to fill: the dry woodland understory of the southeastern United States, from the Piedmont to the coastal plain, in dappled or partial shade where moisture is available but the soil is never waterlogged. At six to eight inches tall, it moves through a space at the measured pace of a plant that intends to stay permanently, spreading by underground stems in a way that is gradual enough to manage but persistent enough to eventually cover ground.

The leaves are the main attraction: arrow-shaped, up to eight inches long, and sometimes variegated with lighter markings that add subtle interest in the shade. The jug-shaped flowers appear in spring at ground level, brownish to reddish and half-hidden beneath the foliage — an arrangement that suits the plant's pollinator of choice, which is flies rather than bees. The foliage and stems carry a faint ginger-peppery scent when handled. Like other members of the genus, this plant is not recommended for consumption. Use it as a groundcover in a native, shade, or shady rock garden, and propagate by division or seed; given the right conditions, it will self-sow into corners on its own terms.