Ginseng Plant: Identification, Care, Planting Tips, and Varieties

How to Identify Ginseng Plant

What does a ginseng plant look like? The appearance of ginseng changes greatly with age. For example, a young one has only one stem and one leaf with three small leaflets.

An adult plant usually has three or four leaves, and each of these leaves consists of five smaller leaflets that spread out like fingers from a single point. These leaflets have the shape of ovals with sharp edges.

Their veins are also easily distinguishable - in the first year, one leaf is often called a "prong", and as the plant grows, more teeth appear, and each new tooth has five leaflets.

Age of Plant	What Does the Ginseng Plant Look Like?
Year 1	A single stem with one prong and three leaflets
Year 2	A single stem with two prongs, each with five leaflets
Year 3	A single stem with three prongs, each with five leaflets
Year 4+	Three or more prongs, each with five leaflets In addition, the plant starts to produce a small cluster of flowers and then red berries.

To determine where the autumn wild examples grow, pay attention to the bright red berries that ripen in late summer and early autumn, which make it easy to identify a mature plant in the forest from afar.

But if you’re not sure - take a picture and upload it into the AI Plant Finder app - get all the details on any bush, flower, or tree.

The stem is also a good way to identify it - it is quite fragile, round, smooth, and may be green or slightly reddish.

Speaking of the root, as the plant matures, a small scar appears on the neck of the ginseng root every year, which allows experienced collectors to find out its exact age – scar tissue is a very good sign of the age and strength of the root.

It is important to know the difference between real plants and other plants.

The real one belongs to the Panax family: two main species, American and Asian, are part of the scientific Panax family. Other ones with the word "ginseng" in the name, such as Siberian or Ficus ones, do not belong to this family.
Location and number of leaflets: Real ginseng has a pronounced compound leaf with five leaflets fanning out from a central point. Other ones may have the same number of leaves, but their arrangement is different. For example, Virginia ginseng also has five leaves, but they are arranged on the stem in a different way.
Root characteristic: The roots of other ones, such as wild sarsaparilla, do not have such a characteristic "human" shape.
Growing conditions: Wild instances grow naturally in certain shaded forest areas. Others, such as ficus, are often grown indoors as houseplants, they have different lighting and soil needs.

Types of Ginseng Plant Pictures

American Ginseng Plant

Panax quinquefolius is a type of true ginseng native to North America and is known for its soothing and adaptogenic properties.

Korean Ginseng Plant

Panax ginseng plant is the most famous Asian variety widely grown in Korea and is often referred to as Korean ginseng. This one is usually considered more stimulating and energizing.

Red Ginseng Plant

It is a form of Asian ginseng, and it is prepared by steaming and drying the root of common ginseng. It is believed that this process increases its effectiveness and gives the root its characteristic red color.

Ficus Ginseng Plant

The ginseng ficus plant (Ficus microcarpa) is a popular indoor one with a thick root-like trunk. BUT this is not a real ginseng and does not belong to the genus Panax. Ficus ginseng is used exclusively for decorative purposes, like Ficus Elastica, and has no medicinal use.

How Do You Plant Ginseng Seeds?

The seeds have a hard outer shell and need a special process called stratification, meaning they need to be stored in cold and humid conditions for a long time, usually about a year and a half. This helps the ginseng plant seeds to come out of their natural dormant state and prepare for germination.

Seeds have a double dormancy period, which means they need two full cold winters before they germinate.

When talking about planting, it is very important to choose the right place, because ginseng needs a lot of shade, so you should plant ginseng seeds in a forest or in a heavily shaded garden where the soil is rich in natural substances such as fallen leaves.

The best time is autumn, preferably in late autumn, before the ground gets too cold and hard. This allows the seeds to overwinter in cold soil and prepare for germination in spring.

Here are the basic steps for planting:

Prepare the soil: Make sure that the soil is loose, rich in organic matter, and well-drained. It is important that the soil is not wet, as this can lead to rapid rotting of seeds and roots.

The ideal pH of the soil for cultivation is from 5.5 to 6.5.

Make holes: Bury the seeds in the soil to a depth of about 2.5 centimeters. The distance between them should be about 15 centimeters.
Cover the seeds: carefully sprinkle them with earth, and then with a thick layer of leaves or straw to retain moisture, protecting them from sudden temperature changes.

Hand-drawn illustration of a ginseng plant with roots and leaves

Ginseng Plant Care and Harvest

It needs a lot of shade, so you need to be very careful and protect it from direct sunlight, which can burn its delicate leaves.

It is also important to water, especially in dry weather, but be careful not to overfill the water, as this can lead to rotting of the roots.

Gardeners should also be wary of pests such as slugs and snails, and fungal diseases such as leaf blight, which can damage the leaves or even kill the plant overall.

It can take many years to grow to a significant size, even up to 10 or 20 years to grow to the right size.

Ginseng Root Plant and Its Benefits

Improved Energy: It is often used to fight physical and mental fatigue, as well as to increase strength and energy.
Cognitive Function: Research shows that it can improve thinking, such as memory and concentration.
Immune System Support: In general, it improves the immune system by increasing the activity of white blood cells, but there are not many proven studies on this topic.
Blood Sugar Control: Some studies show that roots can help control blood sugar levels by improving insulin production in the body, but more research is needed to be sure.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: Ginsenosides have also been shown to help with inflammation, which may help improve some conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does it take so long to grow?

It spends most of its energy developing roots, which grow very slowly, and its natural habitat in shady forests means that it receives limited sunlight for photosynthesis.

What does ginseng plant look like when it's young?

In the first year of life, a young one has one stem and one leaf with three leaflets. In the second year, it develops a second stem, forming a "two-pronged" plant, and on each leaf there are five leaflets.

What is the difference between American and Asian ginseng?

American ginseng is commonly used because of its calming and relaxing effects, while Asian ginseng is considered more "warming" and is commonly used as a stimulant to boost energy.

How do I know if the ginseng plant root is ready for harvest?

As a rule, a root crop is considered ready for harvest after at least 7-10 years of growth, and a good indicator is that red berries form on the stem of the plant, indicating its maturity.

Ginseng Plant Identification, Care, Planting Seeds & Varieties Guide

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How to Identify Ginseng Plant