Panax quinquefolius – American Ginseng

Happiest in a moist, but well-drained soil in the dappled shade of deciduous trees, especially Sugar Maple. The cluster of red berries adds an ornamental element to the fall woodland garden. A top-dressing of dolomitic limestone in the fall is beneficial for highly acidic soil.

The most valuable ginseng in the world grows in the Catskills. Curse or blessing? Overcollection for the medicinal trade may lead to extirpation of local populations. On the other hand, growing ginseng may provide forest owners with the economic means to hold on to large tracts of land and prevent suburbanization of the Catskills.

Ginseng seeds go through two winters before they germinate. The seedlings then spend a year in the seed tray before we pot them up to sell as  2 Year Old plants.  Demand is high and our seed supply is limited, so we usually sell most of our plants before they reach an older age/flowering size. Spring of ’25 we should have a small number of older plants available.