Panax quinquefolius Linnaeus. Common name: Ginseng, Sang, American Ginseng. Phenology: May-Jun; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Cove forests, mesic hardwood forests, generally in nutrient-rich forests though tending to avoid the richest coves. Distribution: ME and QC west to MN and SD, south to e. VA, e. NC, nc. SC, sw. GA, s. AL, s. MS, e. LA, and OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: P. quinquefolius is gathered in quantity throughout its range for the herbal trade; most of the North American harvest is shipped to China, where it is prized for medicinal uses. Dried roots command prices in excess of $1000 per kilogram; in our area, "sang" is a multimillion dollar industry. Formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced in most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals, a classic example of a "predator-prey" relationship. Collection and trade in ginseng is monitored and regulated in most states. In NC, it is illegal for ginseng dealers to buy ginseng from collectors before Sep; this allows the plants to mature fruits prior to collection. Schlessman (1985) discusses the floral biology of P. quinquefolius.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, F, FNA13, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, Ok, Pa, Tn, Va, W, WV, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Haines (2020a), Smith (1944); = Panax quinquefolium L. — C, G, GrPl, RAB, S, S13, Tat, orthographic variant. Basionym: Panax quinquefolius L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Panax quinquefolius - FNA13
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Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Panax quinquefolius, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Fulton County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of mesic hardwood forests, such as cove forests and other generally nutrient-rich forests.
Stems: Stem solitary and arising from a spindle-shaped, forked root, unbranched, smooth; may be purple-tinged.
Leaves: Leaves 3 (1-5) in a whorl at top of stem, long-petiolate, palmately divided into 3-5 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets that are 2½-6 in. long, toothed, pointy-tipped and smooth, the two lower leaflets smaller than the others.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 6-20 in a single umbel (to 3/4 in. wide) rising from the center of the leaf whorl; greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals, an insignificant calyx, 5 stamens and a divided style.
Fruits: Fruit a bright red, round berry.
Comments: The roots of this plant are harvested for the herbal trade, much of it shipped to China; formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced over most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals.
Height: 1-2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of mesic hardwood forests, such as cove forests and other generally nutrient-rich forests.
stems: Stem solitary and arising from a spindle-shaped, forked root, unbranched, smooth; may be purple-tinged.
leaves: Leaves 3 (1-5) in a whorl at top of stem, long-petiolate, palmately divided into 3-5 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets that are 2½-6 in. long, toothed, pointy-tipped and smooth, the two lower leaflets smaller than the others.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 6-20 in a single umbel (to 3/4 in. wide) rising from the center of the leaf whorl; greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals, an insignificant calyx, 5 stamens and a divided style.
fruits: Fruit a bright red, round berry.
comments: The roots of this plant are harvested for the herbal trade, much of it shipped to China; formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced over most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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