Panax quinquefolius (American Ginseng)
Also known as: | Wild Ginseng |
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Genus: | Panax |
Family: | Araliaceae (Ginseng) |
Life cycle: | perennial |
Origin: | native |
Status: |
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Habitat: | part shade, shade; rich hardwood forest |
Bloom season: | June - July |
Plant height: | 8 to 16 inches |
Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | |
National distribution (click map to enlarge): |
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Detailed Information
Flower:
A single dome-shaped cluster about ¾-inch across on a 1 to 2-inch stalk at the top of the stem. The tiny 5-petaled flowers are greenish white, less than 1/8 inch across, on a 1/3 to ½ inch stalk; 5 stamens protrude from the center. Flowers open from the bottom of the cluster first and fruit sets quickly so that large green fruit is often present well before 50% of the flower buds have opened.
Leaves and stems:
At the top of the stem is a single whorl of 1 to 4 (age dependent) palmately compound leaves, above which the flower stalk and cluster develop.
Leaflets are in groups of 3 to 5 (rarely 7), 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, oblong or broadest at the tip end, hairless, with serrated edges and an abruptly pointed tip. The central and first set of side leaflets are nearly equal in size and long stalked, the outermost leaflets conspicuously smaller with very short stalks.
Fruit:
The flat, round seeds often form in pairs, sometimes in 3s, covered by a bright red fleshy coat. Ripe fruit is up to ¾ inch across.
Notes:
America created an instant cash export market of Ginseng as early as 1716. More lucrative than the fur trade, exports exceeded 100s of thousands of tons per year well into the late 18th century. Such a notable frontier American hero as Daniel Boone actually made his fortune - not on furs - but on the lowly "man root" collected from the Appalachian wilderness. Like all things market driven, a species that can attain over a century of age, American Ginseng has been hunted to near extinction. Faced with continued human exploitation, loss of habitat and fragmentation of habitat by development, over grazing by artificially high deer populations, seed bank loss to rebounding wild turkey populations, loss and destruction of habitat to invasive plants (e.g. buckthorn, garlic mustard, etc.), and animals (earthworms and wild pigs)... oh dear... one has to wonder if we humans have the will to save anything we value. Native ginseng is extremely rare to encounter in the wild. A very common native look-a-like is Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), but its compound leaves are not palmate, the leaflets stalkless, the flower clusters typically in 3s, and the fruits round and dark purplish blue.
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More photos
Photos by K. Chayka taken in a private garden in Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Washington County, and in a private garden in Anoka County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2012-07-18 09:36:16
I was helping a friend do a plant survey in a hardwoods forest in central mn. I thought that we spotted a ginseng plant but was not totally sure. Came back a second time and with more info ,yep that's what it is ! Pretty exciting!
on: 2014-07-16 13:53:54
I know of several locations, a few undocumented. They keep getting dug up, though. Last year I counted 130 plants in one location; this year I counted trowel holes and a few hidden plants they missed
on: 2016-06-03 21:47:10
I've got a huge stand of wild ginseng in our woods. We're on a mixed oak/ Jack pine dominated sand plane. Surprised to see its so rare since we've got so much!
on: 2016-06-06 11:25:27
Sean, it is possible what you have is wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) rather than ginseng. It is very common in woodlands and forested areas throughout much of Minnesota where ginseng is quite rare.
on: 2016-08-28 23:05:46
I have harvested ginseng for years... There are areas where it grows abundantly, But those of us who know where it grows will never share where it's located!
on: 2019-05-12 12:31:53
we have access to 80 acres in morrison county and 300 acres in the crosby area. Is there any chance that there is wild ginseng there? None of the land has been used for pasture in the last 20 years and some of it is totally wild. It contains a mixture of oak, maple and pine trees. Just wondering if there is any chance and if there is we would be wondering if anyone would be interested in teaching us about harvesting it
on: 2019-05-20 08:33:00
Debra, looking at the distribution map, Morrison County is within its range so anything is possible. I think you'll have to look elsewhere for information on (sustainable) harvesting.
on: 2021-05-12 18:34:58
I think I saw some at Linwood Lake.
on: 2021-10-04 09:50:24
There are young plants on some of the Lake Minnetonka islands, on private property still. You can often find them among the bloodroot and ramps.
I know the responsible Harvesters are not to blame for the status of American Ginseng, but anyone wondering how and when to harvest - should follow the state guidelines before this plant is gone.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/ginseng/index.html