American ginseng
(Panax
quinquefolius L.)

botanical information

American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, is native to North America and can be found in rich woodlands from Quebec to Alabama, west to Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska.  A member of the Araliaceae family, it is an herbaceous perennial and grows as an understory plant in densely shaded deciduous hardwood forests.  Ginseng emerges in late April from a dormant bud on the upper end of the root.  The plant grows to a height of twelve to twenty-four inches and has three compound leaves, with five leaflets, that are joined at the top of an erect stem.  Greenish-white flowers bloom in late spring or early summer.  Green berries follow, and ripen to red by late summer.  Each year, when the leaves die back in the fall, a scar is imprinted on the top of the root.  The age of the plant can be determined if all of the scars from a root are counted.  The root is harvested anywhere from four to ten years, or older, depending upon cultivation methods.  It is the root and seeds (sometimes the leaf) that are sold commercially. 

 Ginseng is a valued plant to many people in the Southern Appalachian region and has earned the reputation as “green gold”.  Marj Boyer, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Protection Section, estimates that it takes over three hundred dried roots to make a pound of wild harvested ginseng.  In an effort to conserve and protect this native species, cultivation is to be encouraged.

medicinal uses

Ginseng has deep roots connected with traditional uses in medicines of Asia.  For over four thousand years, ginseng has been used as a medicine in China and in other eastern cultures.  It has achieved almost mythical status as a cure-all.  Some of its uses according to Chinese medicine include curing sexual impotence, nervousness, vomiting, and indigestion.  Other traditional uses consist of gastric disturbances and rheumatism.  In North America and Europe, ginseng is used to relieve stress, increase energy, and improve mental perception.  Modern uses for ginseng also include improving physical performance and boosting the immune system.

selecting a planting site

There are three different methods of growing ginseng.  Field grown ginseng is cultivated in beds and grown under an artificial shade structure.  This type of ginseng sells for substantially less than wild harvested roots but produces a larger crop much faster.  Woods grown ginseng describes the method of planting ginseng in the woods in prepared beds using the forest trees as a natural canopy.  Wild simulated describes ginseng grown in the forest with little or no maintenance, taking more years to harvest, but often bringing in a comparable price to wild harvested material.  Wild harvested material describes ginseng that was harvested from native and naturalized sites and has not been planted or cultivated by humans.

 Wild simulated and woods grown are the methods recommended for the North Carolina mountain areas.  Seed and root chilling requirements for ginseng can be satisfied with the temperatures that are typical of North Carolina mountain winters, and many of the forests are very suitable for growing ginseng.  Choose an area with conditions that closely resembles where ginseng naturally grows.  A north or east-facing slope with good surface drainage is ideal.  The soil should be moist, but well drained throughout.  Root diseases can cause many problems in wet soils.  A 75% shade canopy is necessary, as excessive light can cause bronzing of the leaves and early death of the tops.  The ideal soil is a loam with high organic matter.  Additional compost can be added with great success.  Heavy clay or light sandy soils should be avoided.  Locate your planting site where woodland plants, like trillium, bloodroot, mayapple, and wild ginseng already grow.  Tree species including walnut, oak, poplar, and basswood make an excellent canopy for ginseng.  Avoid planting under conifers or other shallow-rooted trees as they compete with ginseng for soil moisture and nutrients.  The cost of securing the ginseng crop must also be considered.  Wild simulated and woods grown ginseng are especially vulnerable to poachers.  As a result, planting should only take place in small, secluded areas. 

planting

Fall planting is recommended for both seeds and roots.  Before ginseng seeds will germinate, a long period of stratification is needed.  The seed is exposed to warm moist temperatures, then cold temperatures.  Typically, the seeds will germinate the second spring following a fall harvest of the berries.  In, Care and planting of ginseng seed and roots, Jeanine Davis, North Carolina State University, writes, “Commercial seed suppliers store seed for a year and then market it in the fall as stratified seed.  Fall planted, stratified ginseng seed will usually emerge the following April to June.  Fresh, non-stratified (green) ginseng seed may be planted immediately after harvesting the berries.  Seeds will stratify naturally in the seedbed over the next year and a half, although loss to rodents and disease may be quite high.  The seeds must never be allowed to dry out.”  To learn more about stratification methods for ginseng seed, go to Davis’s website.

Once the planting site has been chosen, decide what method of planting suits your needs.  For wild simulated, clear out the brush and rake the leaf mulch aside in the areas you will be planting.   If direct seeding, work the soil surface into a fine seedbed; if setting roots, work the ground deeper.  To prepare the soil for woods grown ginseng, much of the underbrush will need to be cleared out.  Raised beds are the recommended planting method for woods grown.  The beds should be tilled several times, with generous amounts of organic matter worked in.  If lime is needed, add it at this time.   

Davis recommends the following planting methods for seeds and roots.  “To plant seeds, place seeds one-fourth to one-half inch deep, spacing seeds one to six inches apart in rows six to nine inches apart.  There are approximately eight thousand ginseng seeds per pound.  To retain soil moisture and winter protection, mulch seedbeds with one to two inches of shredded hardwood bark, aged leaves, or composted sawdust, immediately after planting.  To plant roots, place the ginseng root in the soil, at a slight angle, 30-45⁰, with the bud one inch below the soil surface.  Space plants three to twelve inches apart in rows six to twelve inches apart.  Mulch recommendations are the same as for planting seeds.”

 If transplants are used, they can be started from seed using deep flats or in a shaded planting bed.  Generally, it takes at least two years until the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into permanent beds.  Plant seeds two to three inches apart in a prepared soil mix or in a prepared bed with adequate organic matter.  Richo Cech, author of Growing at Risk Medicinal Herbs, recommends waiting until seedlings are two to three years old before transplanting out into permanent beds.  Fertilize with generous amounts of finished compost.  Transplant into permanent beds using the spacing recommendations listed above for planting roots.

insects and diseases

One of the biggest challenges to growing ginseng is the attraction other animals have for the plant and seeds.  Ginseng is defenseless against rodents, turkey, and deer, for example.  The plants need to be monitored and protected against these animals, and are especially vulnerable when they are newly seeded.  Survival rate can decrease tremendously if plants are not protected.  If slugs are a problem, rake some of the mulch away from the plants, and either hand pick the slugs at dusk or apply an organic control.  Poachers, by far, have had the greatest impact on private ginseng patches, as they often dig whole populations, leaving nothing behind. 

 There are many diseases that have affected ginseng, especially in field cultivated, mono-crop systems.  The book, Index of Plant Diseases in the United States, lists the following diseases for Panax quinquefolius: Alternaria panax, alternaria blight, root rot; Armillaria mellea, root rot; Botrytis cinerea, gray-mold blight, stem rot, seed rot; Colletotrichum dematium, secondary leaf spot; Fusarium scirpi, root rot, wilt; Meloidogyne sp., root knot nematodes; Phytophthora cactorum, root and stem rot, downy mildew; Puccinia araliae, rust; Pythium debaryanum, damping-off; Ramularia spp., root rot; Rhizoctonia solani, damping-off, root rot; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, white rots of rhizomes; S. smilacina, black rot of rhizomes; Septoria sp., leaf spot; Thielaviopsis basicola, black root; and Verticillium albo-atrum, wilt.

harvesting, cleaning, and drying

Ginseng plants are harvested, in the fall, after four to ten growing seasons, depending on cultivation methods.  Harvesting begins after the berries have ripened on the plants.  The following harvesting and drying techniques have been taken from Davis’s publication, Ginseng: a production guide for North Carolina.  “Before harvest, remove the mulch and the tops of the plants from the beds.  In artificially shaded plantings, take down the shade structure.  Removing the shade and mulch helps to dry the soil and to make digging easier.  Minimize root injury by exercising care when harvesting.  Spades or forks can be used for harvesting most plantings; large-scale growers can use mechanical diggers, similar to potato harvesters.  Digging is easiest when the ginseng is grown in raised beds.  Gather whole roots and promptly put into baskets or boxes.  Carefully wash all soil from the roots with clean running water and take care not to damage or destroy feeder roots or the neck of the root.  Do not scrub or skin the roots, and do not attempt to remove natural soil stains in the skin of the roots.” 

 “Roots must be air dried for storage and marketing.  Drying can best be accomplished by exposing the roots to warm, dry, moving air.  Spread the roots evenly in a single layer on a screen-bottom tray to allow maximum ventilation.  A fan and small heater can be used to circulate and warm the air in the drying room.  In general, the temperature should not exceed 95⁰F to 100⁰F.  If the humidity is very high, it might be necessary to raise the temperature to dry the roots thoroughly. If the roots dry too quickly, the exterior will darken, reducing their value.  Use a dehumidifier or ventilation fan to remove moisture from the drying room.  Roots are sufficiently dry when they break with a snap.  Drying should be complete in three or four weeks under good conditions.”

 “Once the roots are dry, place them in clean cardboard barrels or boxes.  Do not place them in plastic or other airtight containers because mold and mildew could develop on the roots.  Store the roots in a cool, dry, atmosphere and free from rodents and insects.”

markets  

Over 90% of ginseng sold goes to the Asian market, where a number of buyers and brokers represent many distributors throughout Asia.  Most ginseng that is traded to and from North America, still takes place through the port of Hong Kong.  Growers of wild simulated material usually trade with established "wild" ginseng brokers, while growers who produce woods grown material deal mainly with ginseng brokers representing Asian interests or sell directly to small-to-medium size extract producers and export companies.  Field grown ginseng is distributed through channels that are highly structured and vertically integrated.  Many growers deal directly with large extract producers on a contractual basis or as a fully integrated supplier, or form cooperatives through which they negotiate with buyers.

 The physical resemblance to aged, wild harvested American ginseng is vital to the market value for wild simulated ginseng.  Generally, this material must be at least ten years old from direct seeding, to command prices close to "true" wild harvested ginseng.  Buyers for woods grown dried root material require a threshold level of five percent ginsenosides, an absence of chemical residuals, and for some buyers, a certified organic product.  Customer requirements for field grown material are similar to woods grown, except the prices paid are much less.  The markets for ginseng are complex, to say the least.  Understanding them requires patience and an inquisitive nature. 

Cech, Richo. 2002. Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs. Horizon Herbs. Williams, Oregon. 314 pp.

 Davis, Jeanine M. 2003. Care and planting of ginseng seed and roots. HIL 127. NC State University, Raleigh, NC. Click here for the Website.

 Davis, Jeanine M. 2001. Cultivating native woodland botanicals. NC State University, Raleigh, NC. Click here for the Website.

 Davis, Jeanine M. 2000. Ginseng: a production guide for North Carolina. North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC. Click here for the Website.

 Fernald, M. L. 1970. Gray’s Manual of Botany. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York, NY. 1632 pp. 

Greenfield, Jackie, and Jeanine M. Davis. 2004. Medicinal herb production guides. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

 Greenfield, Jackie, and Jeanine M. Davis. 2003. Collection to commerce: western North Carolina non-timber forest products and their markets. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 106 pp. Click here for the Website. 

NCDA&CS Plant Conservation Program, Plant Industry Division. 2001. Ginseng in North Carolina: what you need to know. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC.

 Persons, W. Scott. 1988. American Ginseng: Green Gold, revised ed. Bright Mountain Books, Asheville, NC. 203pp. 

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. 1183 pp.

 Strategic Reports. 2002. Analysis of the economic viability of cultivating selected botanicals in North Carolina. A report commissioned for the North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicinal Products by North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 244 pp.

 Sturdivant, Lee, and Tim Blakley. 1999. Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field, and Marketplace. San Juan Naturals. Friday Harbor, Washington. 323 pp.

 US Department of Agriculture, Crops Research Division Agricultural Research Service. 1960. Index of Plant Diseases in the United States, Agriculture Handbook No. 165. Washington, DC. 531pp. 

regulations

Ginseng trade is monitored by state agencies in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to watch that the wild American ginseng does not go extinct through over collection.  The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was formed to provide a mechanism to regulate and monitor international trade in wild plants and animals, and their parts and products. 

Wild ginseng is currently listed by CITES in Appendix II as a species that may be traded internationally through the use of export permits, thus, a permit must be obtained before exporting ginseng roots.  For more information, contact the Office of Management Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203.   Telephone number is 1-800-358-2104. Click here for the Web site.

 In North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Plant Industry Division, oversees the ginseng trade through its Plant Conservation Program.  Ginseng is a legally protected plant in North Carolina, ranked as Special Concern, and is subject to certain regulations.  Following are a few excerpts from NCDA&CS, Ginseng in North Carolina: what you need to know:

 “A ginseng dealer's permit is required for anyone who buys North Carolina ginseng roots, wild or cultivated, for resale, or who intends to sell roots out of state.  Any ginseng leaving the state must have an export certificate, issued by the local NCDA&CS Plant Protection Specialist. There is no fee for the dealer's permit or for export certification.”

 “A ginseng grower or digger needs a North Carolina ginseng dealer’s permit if the grower/digger intends to sell roots directly to an out-of-state buyer rather than to a North Carolina-registered dealer.  The permit is needed only when the ginseng is to be sold.”

 “No permit is needed to grow ginseng to be harvested only for the roots.  If intending to sell live plants, the grower needs a nursery certificate, issued by the local NCDA&CS plant protection specialist.  Growers should keep records to show that their ginseng is not wild, since there is always the possibility that future regulations may restrict the sale of wild ginseng.”

 “Anyone collecting or dealing in live ginseng plants intended for replanting must obtain a Collected Plant Certificate and/or Nursery Dealer Certificate from NCDA&CS.  Live ginseng plants are subject to plant pest regulations.”

 Additional information on North Carolina ginseng regulations, including wild harvested material and dealer permits, can be found at the website address mentioned above and the NCDA&CS Website . A North Carolina ginseng dealers list is also available from NCDA&CS.  For questions or additional information, contact Marjorie Boyer at Marj.Boyer@ncmail.net. 

The North Carolina Arboretum is grateful to Jackie Greenfield and Jeanine M. Davis for their contributions to this publication, including excerpts from their publication “Medicinal Herb Production Guides”. The Arboretum also wishes to thank Richard Rice for his artistic renditions of the herbs. The Superb Herbs Web site and the documents provided were made possible by a grant from the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, found on the Web at www.ncagr.com.