Herb SeedHSC-HRB-001-PKT

American Ginseng Herb Seed — woodland ginseng plant

American Ginseng Herb Seed — five leaflet detail

American Ginseng Herb Seed — ginseng shaded woodland patch

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Panax quinquefolius

A seed worth growing

American Ginseng Herb Seed

Item #HSC-HRB-001-PKT

Woodland ginseng from seed.

American ginseng grows wild in the hardwood forests of eastern North America. It wants well-drained, humus-rich soil, ideally on north- or east-facing slopes, under 70% shade or more.

Roots are usually dug in fall of the fifth or sixth year. Because American ginseng is a protected species, this seed can only ship within the US.

Roots take about 5–6 years. Open-pollinated.

Specs

Packet: 50 seeds
Average 500 seeds per oz.

In stock — Packet

$6.40

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Quantity

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Know before you sow

Quick Facts

Latin Name: Panax quinquefolius
Days To Maturity: 5-6 years to root harvest
Life Cycle: Perennial
Hybrid Status: Open Pollinated

Growing times vary with weather, soil and local conditions.

Growing guide

From seed to harvest

Deep shade

70%+ under hardwoods.

Sow 1/2–3/4" deep

Mulch 3–4".

Be patient

Sprouts after 6+ months.

Dig in year 5–6

Early fall.

Growing Information

Days to germination

180 days or more; seed needs a long cold-warm cycle.

Sowing

Sow 1/2–3/4" deep (never deeper than 1") and about 3" apart, roughly 15–20 seeds per square foot. Cover with 3–4" of leaves or straw and wet the mulch so it stays put.

Seedlings

New shoots are tiny, like bean sprouts with three small leaves. Weed carefully so roots aren't disturbed; once plants are established, mulch helps hold weeds back.

Plant spacing

3–6".

Site

A woodland plant: grow under a hardwood canopy (oak, maple, sycamore or basswood are ideal) with at least 70% shade, ideally on a north- or east-facing slope.

Soil

Light, humus-rich loam at pH 5.0–6.0. Good drainage is essential.

Harvest

Roots can be dug after the third season, but most growers wait until year five or six. Dig in early fall (late August–early September), just after the tops die down.

Shipping

American ginseng is a protected species (CITES Appendix II), so we can only ship this seed within the US.

Hardiness

Zones 4–8.

Plant height

8–16".

Scientific name

Panax quinquefolius

Packet

50 seeds.

Seeds per oz.

About 500 on average.

Product Details

Ginseng seed is sold stratified (already put through its cold treatment) and is meant for fall planting. We ship it year-round, so you can order any time.

Satisfaction Guarantee

We want every packet you buy from Hensley’s Seed Co. to grow well for you.

If anything you order from us doesn’t meet your expectations, just let us know and we’ll replace it or refund what you paid.

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