Large Four-Prong Ginseng Plant with New Berries

Large Four-Prong with 21 Leaflets

Wild American Ginseng Published in the Spring 2019 Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation by George Lindemann Toward the end of April 2018, the Chinese Government imposed a tariff  on imported wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). This little known wild root has somehow gotten into the middle of a brewing American/ Chinese trade war. I am…

Sam Lindemann marking Wild Ginseng with flags.

Ginseng for consumption for sale

The last Male Northern White Rhino died yesterday. Like rhinos, wild American Ginseng is protected by CITES (convention on international trade in endangered species). Male White Rhinos are now extinct. Is Ginseng next? Wild American Ginseng is the last truly wild root on the planet. It is considered an indicator species for the health of…

Ever since the kids and I found ginseng, we’ve been fascinated by it. Finding it, studying it, seeing shapes in the physical roots, and drinking it in tea. But we’re also worried about ginseng. For one thing, it gets stolen and too frequently the thieves don’t respect the “take” failing to plant the berries into…