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Nontimber Forest Products (NTFPs) from Pennsylvania

American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius L.)

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2 Nontimber Forest Products (NTFPs) from Pennsylvania

IntroductionNontimber forest products (NTFPs), including Americanginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), have long been collectedin Pennsylvania for food, medicine, income, and plea-sure. Over the past three centuries, however, the impactof collection on such products has largely gone unstud-ied. In the face of reduced habitat availability anddiminished wild supplies, forest farming and other formsof intensive husbandry are recommended to relievecollection pressure on existing wild stocks as well as inthe hope of introducing interesting and potentiallylucrative native forest resources to forestland owners.

Cultivation may offer a practical means for some toobtain NTFPs for sale or personal use. However, otherscontinue to seek out wild sources. This situation mayresult from lack of access to forestland or appropriatetypes of forestland on which to culture particularspecies, or collectors may simply enjoy the activity itself.Whatever the circumstances, collectors need to recognizeand consider characteristics of each NTFP that willultimately determine the sustainability of their activities.

Sustainability is a word that conjures up manydifferent ideas in natural resource management. In thecollection of wild plants, or wild-crafting, sustainabilityshould be considered as the adoption of collection practicesthat do not degrade the regenerative and productive capabilityof the plant resource over time. In order to accomplish thisgoal, understanding something of each species’ biologyand ecology becomes necessary to determine the mannerin which harvesting is best pursued. This is the first in aseries of publications on NTFPs that will discuss theconsiderations associated with collection and husbandryof popular NTFPs in Pennsylvania. In this publication,many important aspects of ginseng collection in theCommonwealth are reviewed and guidelines are pre-sented for promoting sustainability in wild collection.

Uses and CommerceThe genus Panax contains eleven species, according torecent study, and is considered to be a source of some ofthe world’s premier PAT (panacea-adaptogen-tonic)plants. A panacea, briefly defined, is a cure-all; anadaptogen enhances adaptation to stress; and a tonicimproves strength and well-being. Members of thegenus have earned these reputations as a consequence ofa long history of cultural use in eastern Asia and thePacific Rim. The two most widely used species, Asianginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panaxquinquefolius), are native to eastern Asia and easternNorth America, respectively. Both are considered to bethe most valuable members of the genus from a thera-peutic standpoint, and thus form the basis of the interna-tional ginseng trade.

The health-promoting properties associated withconsumption of American ginseng as a food, beverage,or supplement continue to receive an increasing amountof scientific interest and scrutiny worldwide. Suchstudies have generally yielded favorable results, withmany traditional claims corroborated by modern re-search. These positive findings, in turn, continue to drivedemand, even in countries where ginseng does not havea history of cultural use. The whole root has the greatestcommercial demand and, therefore, is the item mostsought after by collectors. This is true even though allparts—leaves, fruit, and root—have been shown tocontain various ginsenosides (the chemical constituentsthat are believed to be most responsible for the beneficialproperties of ginseng). Trade in wild ginseng has re-mained important throughout the past century despitethe fact that the species was introduced into horticulturein the late-nineteenth century and has since been culti-vated intensively in artificial-shade gardens and planta-tions. These “gardens” can cover many acres, and theirbenefit to growers is that plants can be rapidly grown (in3–5 years) at high densities by optimizing culturalconditions.

Widespread collection of American ginseng root fromPennsylvania forestlands was noted as early as 1783 andhas undoubtedly contributed much to the economicprosperity of the Commonwealth over the years. Duringthe 14-year period from 1989 to 2003, for example, over37,000 pounds of dried root were recorded as harvestedfrom Pennsylvania (Table 1). Using an average (andlargely conservative) price of $300/lb paid to collectorsfor dried root, the contribution of the ginseng trade toPennsylvania’s economy can be estimated at more than$11 million during this era, and this figure does notA ginseng root

3 American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.)

include the income received from downstream andvalue-added processing. From such estimates, Americanginseng is clearly one of the Commonwealth’s premier,yet little-acknowledged, natural resources.

Occurrence in PennsylvaniaHistorically, American ginseng has been documented,observed, or otherwise noted from every county ofPennsylvania. It is a shade-obligate plant and occursnaturally in forested habitats—particularly those domi-nated by broad-leaf deciduous trees.

Since the 1700s, American ginseng has been recog-nized as a potentially important trade item. Earlydescriptions by botanists, surveyors, traders, and otherssuggest that American ginseng was likely more plentifulin the Commonwealth in the past. The rarity of ginsengtoday is probably the result of a long history of extrac-tion from Pennsylvania forests, coupled with alterationof land cover (clearing for agriculture, surface mining,housing development, etc.). This land-use legacy com-plicates determining a particular type of forested habitatthat best supports natural ginseng growth and reprod-uction. Certainly, many accounts as to the specificindicator plants are useful for identifying good ginsenghabitat. While these may indeed be useful, ginseng—aswith all plant species—is a remarkably adaptable plantthat can be found or cultured in a variety of forestedhabitats. Perhaps most importantly for collection,however, is that the habitat and soil conditions associ-ated with one location may be more conducive thananother to plant growth and fruit and seed production.Habitat variation is therefore important to observe andacknowledge since collection activities should beadjusted to accommodate differences in plant productiv-ity with local site conditions. Plants that are surviving,but not thriving, in an area will require greater restraintby collectors with regard to the number of plants dugthan plants that occur in supportive habitats that favorvigorous and fruitful plants year after year.The demand for wild ginseng root continues to be

strong in large part because of the high regard that Asianconsumers have for the appearance and quality of theseroots. Approximately 90–95 percent of the wild Americanginseng root harvested in the United States is destined forthe Asian market. Along with differences in shape, othercharacteristics of wild roots include differences in colorand well-developed “stress” rings (concentric rings on theroots). The age of the plants is also very important invaluation; given two roots of equal quality and appear-ance, the older root will generally be considered morevaluable. Asian root buyers also give attention thegeographical origins of a wild root. Ginseng from Penn-sylvania results from a unique set of soil and climateconditions that cannot be duplicated elsewhere; this isreflected in the commercial value of harvested roots.

Table 1. Harvest totals and estimated value of wildAmerican ginseng from Pennsylvania forestlands(1989–2003). Source: PA DCNR

TOTAL HARVEST ESTIMATED VALUEYEAR (DRY LBS) (LBS X $300/LB)

1989 2,226 $667,800

1990 4,236 $1,270,800

1991 2,036 $610,800

1992 3,122 $936,600

1993 3,361 $1,008,300

1994 3,463 $1,038,900

1995 2,744 $823,200

1996 2,860 $858,000

1997 2,829 $848,700

1998 1,722 $516,600

1999 2,481 $744,300

2000 2,028 $608,400

2001 1,604 $481,200

2002 1,711 $513,300

2003 920 $294,400

Total 37,343 lbs $11,221,300

A ginseng patch


Collection GuidelinesIdentifying the various stages of a plant’s life cycle isimportant for maximizing plant recruitment, or seedlingproduction. The life cycle of ginseng is very easy todivide into stage classes. Each stage class of ginseng bearsa distinctive leaf appearance that is progressively alteredwith age (Figure 1). This process begins followinggermination, when the seedling emerges and appearswith three leaflets (trifoliate). This form does not changethe entire first growing season. Generally following thefirst year of growth, the leaf form in American ginsengtransitions to palmately compound, meaning that each leafconsists of five to seven leaflets arranged around acentral point at the tip of the leaf stem (petiole). Such aplant would be considered a stage class one plant or, morecommonly in the ginseng trade, a one prong. A single-leafplant, or one-pronger, will eventually attain a two-leafform, with six to ten total leaflets, and would be called astage class two or two prong.

The progressive alteration in ginseng form, with two-leaf plants eventually transitioning to three-leaf and soon, can take many years to occur in the wild. Habitatconditions and annual fluctuations in weather condi-tions appear to be the two most important factorsinfluencing rate of development. Given optimal habitatconditions, American ginseng may attain the four or fiveprong stages rather rapidly, perhaps in as little as 4–7years. It is more common, however, for plants to requirelonger periods of time to reach such advanced stages.

Ginseng reproduction is largely limited to seedproduction, and this begins only after plants havematured to the two-prong stage. Propagating the speciesby rhizome (i.e., neck) and root division is possible, butthis is not practical for several reasons. First, the endproduct will often be less valuable because the impact ofsuch handling on the root will influence final appear-ance. Second, such methods are often more unreliablethan seed propagation. And third, as will be discussedfurther in later sections of this publication, exportrestrictions require roots to have their necks attached forverification of plant age. Many ginseng collectors and

Figure 1. Developmental stages in ginseng and their relative contributions to seed production.

Stratified Seed Seedling Stage

Four-Prong Stage

Two-ProngStage

One-Prong Stage

Three-ProngStage

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stewards still use this technique, however, if they areinterested in retaining plant stock for seed production.

Propagation of ginseng by root division has limitedapplication compared to other forest plants in which therootstock may be easily divided with no adverse effecton the value of the final product. Because ginseng plantsdo not begin to reproduce until they reach the two-prong stage, the stage class at which seed productionoccurs, as well as the stage at which seed output isgreatest, is absolutely essential to consider in order toachieve sustainability.

Research and observation have yielded the veryimportant practical finding that fruit and seed productionin ginseng increases with both stage class and age. A three-pronged plant, for example, will usually produce morefruit and seed than a two-pronged plant. Similarly, a10-year-old three-pronged plant will tend to be morefruitful than a 5-year-old three-pronged plant. Youshould, therefore, always permit at least a few three- andfour-pronged seed plants to remain in an area (Figure 2).By doing so, you will promote good fruit and seedproduction, resulting in increased (as opposed to thesame or fewer) plant numbers over time.

Figure 2. The influence of ginseng collection practices on population recovery.

This objective is accomplished by first determiningthe number of plants occurring in an area and observingtheir various stages of development prior to any harvest-ing. This visual assessment is then used to estimate thecollection quota for the area, ensuring that at least someadvanced stage class plants—three- and four-prongedplants—are allowed to remain in the area during anygiven year. By following this simple strategy, you willensure that the more fruitful plant stages in ginseng—those producing the most fruit and seed—remain tomaximize recovery during the intervals between harvestyears.

If you are concerned about other collectors findingand removing seed plants that have been intentionallyleft, then remove the tops (leaf and stem) so that theplants are inconspicuous to others. This must always bedone after fruit and seed have matured. Removal of leaveslate in the growing season will not harm plants since thebud for next year’s growth will already have beenformed. However, removal of these parts before fruithave matured (i.e., turned completely red in color) is notonly detrimental to seed production, it is also illegal.

After . . .

After . . .

Before. . . .Collection practices that remove all of the more fruitfulthree- and four-pronged seed plants will result inpredominance of less fruitful plants in an area and slowrecovery from harvesting.

Collection practices that permit at least some of the morefruitful three- and four-pronged seed plants to remain inan area will promote reseeding and faster recovery fromharvesting.


Regulations ConcerningGinseng Collection andCommerce in PennsylvaniaConservation concerns surrounding collection of wildginseng from forestlands have been expressed for at leasta century, and certain restrictions have been placed oncollection throughout the species range beginning asearly as the late 1800s in order to address such concerns.Today, nineteen states export ginseng and each has amanagement program in place. These managementprograms (and any associated restrictions) vary some-what from state to state, although most states do havesimilar programs. The information presented anddiscussed in this publication is accurate only for Pennsyl-vania; those involved in the trade elsewhere in theUnited States need to determine the specific regulationsfor their own state.

Two important management actions have been takenwithin the past 30 years that have had important conse-quences for the ginseng industry in Pennsylvania and theUnited States. The first of these occurred in 1975 with thelisting of wild American ginseng in Appendix II of theConvention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Fauna and Flora (CITES). The principalpurpose of this international treaty is to protect wildplants and animals from overexploitation by humans.The United States, as a member of this treaty, requiresthat wild collection of ginseng continue to be sustainable.The Division of Scientific Authority—a branch of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service—is responsible for determiningif collection and international trade are detrimental to thespecies. Due to concerns about the sustainability of wildginseng, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires thatplants be at least 5 years of age before they can be legallyexported from the United States. The reasoning andrelevance of this requirement within the ginseng industryare discussed later in this section.

A second important management step occurred in1982 with the enactment of the “Wild Resource Conser-vation Act,” which directed Pennsylvania’s Departmentof Environmental Resources (DER) (the predecessoragency of the current Department of Conservation andNatural Resources (DCNR)) to identify endangered,threatened, and vulnerable wild plant species and toissue regulations governing their taking, possession,transportation, exportation, processing, and sale.Accordingly, in 1987, the DER issued regulations under“Conservation of Pennsylvania Native Wild Plants” that

established a recognized special status for wild plantsknown as vulnerable plants to include plant species “indanger of population decline within this Common-wealth because of their beauty, economic value, use as acultivar or other factors which indicate that persons mayseek to remove these species from their native habitats.”Three species are presently included in this category:American ginseng, goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), andyellow lady-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus).

Buying, trading, or bartering plants listed as vulner-able is prohibited within Pennsylvania without firstobtaining a vulnerable plant license (Figure 3). This licenseis granted on an annual basis to any interested individu-als, provided they comply with record-keeping require-ments. The DCNR oversees this program and usesinformation collected by licensed dealers to track thequantities of wild ginseng and other vulnerable plantscollected for export from Pennsylvania forestlands.These statistics are obtained through buyer–sellertransactions, so the accuracy of both collector and dealerreporting is an important aspect of the program.

The vulnerable plant management program also hasestablished a set of restrictions regarding their collection.Four of these (provided under Section §45.69, Subchap-ter E) are specific to ginseng collectors and growers.Those interested or engaged in these activities need tobecome familiar with the regulations.

1. A person may harvest ginseng plants only fromSeptember 1 through November 30.1

The intent of this regulation is to permit reproduction inwild plants since fruit mature in late summer and earlyfall. Collectors need to realize, however, that fruitmaturation is dependent on weather and habitat condi-tions, which fluctuate both annually and locally. There-fore, although the regulation states that collection ispermissible beginning September 1, instances occurfrequently in which collection should be delayed beyondthis date to permit fruit ripening. A fruit is not fully ripeuntil it is completely red.

Another important reason for the establishment ofthis harvest season is the difference in root qualityresulting from harvest date. It has long been recognizedthat the best time for collecting ginseng (and many othermedicinal roots) is during the autumn following plantdie-back, when chemistry and water content becomesmost agreeable. The importance of these traits on quality(and reputation) is twofold: (1) roots are generally morepotent (that is, ginsenoside content is greatest in theroot at this time); and (2) the process of drying roots ismade easier (due to lower water content) and the final


appearance of the dried product improved. In ginsengcommerce, improperly dried roots can significantlydecrease their value.

1 It should be noted that the beginning of the ginseng collec-tion season in Pennsylvania has been August 1 for manyyears. However, on the basis of biological studies, as well aspublic input including recommendations from collectors andgrowers, the beginning of the ginseng season will be Septem-ber 1 starting in 2005. The new date of September 1 allowsmore time for fruit and seed maturation in late summer and isalso more consistent with other states in eastern United Statesthat have already altered, or are planning to alter, theiropening season dates to sometime around the beginning ofSeptember.

2. Only mature ginseng plants with at least threeleaves of five leaflets each may be harvested andonly when the seeds (i.e., berries) are red.

The intent of this regulation is to permit plants to reachreproductive maturity and thus contribute to populationviability and growth. As discussed in a precedingsection, a ginseng plant develops through a series of

stage classes before reaching reproductive maturity.A “mature plant” in this regulation is being defined as atleast stage class three (i.e., three prong) because this isthe stage at which plants become capable of significantreproductive effort. Although stage class two (two-prong) plants will often produce flowers and fruit, theiroverall contribution to population growth or mainte-nance is relatively low because the number of each issmall. Consequently, it makes sense that these should beleft to attain reproductive maturity and thereby bepermitted to contribute more substantially to populationgrowth or maintenance. Additionally, collectors shouldremember to always allow at least a few advanced stageclass (i.e., three- and four-prong) seed plants in a givenpopulation to remain, as previously discussed. By doingso, you will assure good fruit and seed yields in a givenpopulation that, in turn, will contribute to years ofreturn harvests.

An important consideration for collectors (andgrowers) is that the three-prong minimum stage require-ment is presently being enforced in the industry throughinspection of root necks. Specifically, the annual growthscars on root necks are counted and used to verify thatthe plants are at least 5 years old. This particular age

Figure 3. An example of a vulnerable plant license issued in Pennsylvania to dealers of vulnerable plants. Sellers of ginsengroot should always verify that buyers have a current license to ensure that the state’s ginseng trade is tracked for managementpurposes.

8100-FM-FR0004 Rev. 7/03

Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Conservation and Natural Resources

Vulnerable Plant Commercial LicenseCL # 99

Issued to: Jane Doe Business Name

123 State Road

Harrisburg, PA 10001

Phone Number: 123-456-7890

Issue Date: July 21, 2003

Valid through June 30, 2004

DCNR Botanist

DISPLAY ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMESNONTRANSFERABLE

SAMPLE


requirement results from the observation that the three-prong stage in ginseng is generally not attained beforethe fifth year in the wild. Although no specific state orfederal regulations mandate that roots have necks, theseare nevertheless used to verify that plants meet thethree-prong (5-year) minimum age requirement to belegally exported from the United States under theinternational CITES treaty. In the process of legal expor-tation, root necks are randomly inspected at State ForestDistrict Offices and by the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS) before shipments are approved for export fromPennsylvania and the United States, respectively. Necksare also used, however, by dealers to assess the value ofthe harvested roots. Because older plants are generallyconsidered more valuable than younger ones, retainingthe necks on roots has economic incentive. For bothreasons, you are strongly urged to retain the necks on all rootsthat are collected for sale.

The second part of this state regulation—that plantsmay be harvested only when the berries have matured —is intended to permit reproduction every year. Whilethere is often the temptation to dig plants before the fruithas matured, collectors must never do so (Figure 4). Thoseindividuals that collect root before the plants have had theopportunity to contribute seed to the population are ultimatelydriving the population to extinction. While such devastatingconsequences may take years, even decades, to becomeapparent, it is nevertheless a logical result of not allowingplants the opportunity to reproduce in an area.

3. Persons harvesting ginseng plants shall plantthe seeds from the plants in the immediatevicinity of the collection site.

The intent of this regulation is to ensure that a localpopulation does not inadvertently become extinctbecause the collectors have removed the seeds andsowed them elsewhere (such as in their own backyards).Populations must be allowed to perpetuate themselvesby reseeding in an area. However, forest habitat condi-tions often change; what may once have been an idealforested site for establishment might now be largelyunsuitable for plants. Such circumstances may occur as aresult of changes in land use, alterations in forest coverresulting from silvicultural operations, or increasedcompetition in an area from exotic or aggressive plantspecies.

In such cases, you should follow the intent of theregulation rather than the letter of the regulation. Collec-tors may adjust by sowing berries or seeds in the samegeneral vicinity as long as those locations appear to beconducive to ginseng growth and maturity. These sitespreferably would be habitats that are very similar inlandform and vegetation characteristics. If seed iscollected and kept for any length of time, certain precau-tions need to be taken to assure that viability is not lost,which includes making sure that the seeds do not becomedried out (by leaving the berry pulp on the seeds and/orperiodic moistening) and by ensuring that fruits/seedsare kept in a cool, dark space until they can be planted(a refrigerator is one option). Research has indicated thatseeds should be planted at a depth of 1 inch for maximumgermination and establishment. While it is rarely neces-sary to be exact in this regard, you should neverthelessbe careful not to plant too shallow or too deep as thereare consequences to both. Plant too shallow and onerisks having seeds dry out or be eaten by birds oranimals; plant seed too deep, on the other hand, and theseedlings will have a difficult time emerging.

In recent years, it has become fairly commonplace forpeople to introduce so-called “commercial” seed intoforestlands in order to establish ginseng in an area or toincrease existing plant numbers. “Commercial” seed inthis case refers to any planting stock that originates froma vendor (whether from Pennsylvania or elsewhere),and that is therefore more than likely not native to yourspecific region. While reseeding is undoubtedly aworthwhile activity and has conservation merit, thereis also concern that such nonlocal stock might harmexisting local populations through interbreedingor through inadvertent introduction of disease.

Figure 4. Ginsengberries develop andripen over a 6- to 12-week period duringlate summer and earlyfall. Collectors havean ethical and legalobligation to ensurethat all fruit arepermitted to ripen andall seeds are plantedbefore digging the root.


Consequently, individuals interested in, or engaged in,this type of practice need to always bear in mind certainprecautions. First and foremost, you should never collectall plants occurring in an area with the justification that itwill be reseeded later with “commercial” stock. Rather,retaining and propagating local plants in an area shouldreceive priority since these plants are adapted to localconditions (and thus perform well) and may holdunique genetic characteristics that might prove invalu-able someday for breeding and conservation purposes.You should therefore always attempt to increase thenumber of plants in an area by first propagating andencouraging the local plants.

Secondly, introduced seed or roots should always beplanted at some distance from locally occurring plants.While research has yet determined the appropriatedistance for this segregation, the further the better is ageneral rule of thumb. Ginseng flowers are known to bevisited, and presumably pollinated, by sweat-bees andother small flying insects, and thus the likelihood ofsuch interbreeding increases with greater plant numbers(or density) and decreased distance between local andnonlocal plantings.

4. A person may not possess harvested, greenginseng roots between April 1 and September 1of a calendar year.

The intent of this regulation is to ensure that collectiondoes not occur at any time other than the permittedseason. As discussed previously, the establishment of acollection season during the late summer and early fall ismeant to ensure that wild plants have the opportunity tomature fruit and set seed, as well as to promote accept-able product quality. Possession of green (undried) rootssuggests that they have been recently harvested, sincethe appearance and quality of green roots will eventu-ally deteriorate (even given refrigeration) after digging.

Collectors should recognize that roots that areharvested prematurely, before the collection season hasofficially begun, will lack a growth bud on the root neck.This bud is not formed until late in the summer, inpreparation for shoot emergence in a subsequent year.Roots lacking this bud are easy to discern. For now,dealers are strongly discouraged from purchasing suchroots, but a time may come where roots without a budare not approved for export in order to curb collectionout of season.

Where to CollectTheft or poaching of ginseng from public and privatelyowned forestland is a serious problem in parts ofPennsylvania. Those who collect ginseng withoutpermission from landowners and/or managers areoften doing great and, in many cases, irreparable harm.Such behavior can affect both the viability of the species(by interfering with management and encouragementpractices) and the industry (by reflecting poorly onginseng collectors within the public perception). Youmust, therefore, always consider the broader impact thatindividual collectors can have on continued trade of thespecies within Pennsylvania. This, of course, includesthe very real possibility of a ban being imposed oncollection, given enough public dissatisfaction withunscrupulous and unsustainable behaviors.

Ginseng collection from privately owned forestlandsis currently allowed without any type of permit, assum-ing that one is either the owner of the forestland or hasexpress permission from the owner. If there is any doubtregarding who owns a particular parcel of land, thenevery effort must be made to determine ownership priorto removing plants. Ethical collectors should recognizethat developing and nursing ginseng interests withlandowners can often yield great partnerships. Suchrelations can, for example, ensure that the ginsengresource is acknowledged in any land managementdecisions (e.g., logging and road building) that wouldimpact the ability to collect from the area again. Discuss-ing one’s interest in the ginseng resource with theproperty owner, therefore, is not only appropriate butmay also ensure that you have a place to collect for yearsto come.

On some public lands in Pennsylvania—state forestand U.S. Forest Service National Forestlands, forexample—collection is prohibited without approvalfrom the regional office charged with land management.Such consent is typically granted in the form of anannual fee-based permit, which entitles one to collectfrom designated forestlands. Each state land manage-ment authority will regulate the quantity of permitsissued in a year in order to allow certain plant popula-tions to recover from harvesting and/or to facilitatemonitoring and evaluation of populations. Decisionsregarding whether to allow collection during each yearare made on an individual management unit basis.

Collection of ginseng from state parks in Pennsylva-nia is not permitted. These areas are intended to serve asplaces where the public can enjoy nature unmolested.


Similarly, collecting ginseng from state game lands inthe Commonwealth is unlawful. It is very important forthe reputation of the ginseng industry, as well as forcontinued appreciation and study of ginseng in theCommonwealth, that collectors abide by these prohibi-tions. Those who willingly collect from state parks andgame lands are not only facing stiff penalties for theiractivities, they are also tarnishing the image of ginsengcollectors as a whole.

All ginseng collection activities, regardless of wherethey take place, are subject to the regulations outlined inthe preceding section. Rather than viewing these as anintrusion on personal freedoms, you should appreciatethat these regulations are established to help ensurelong-term sustainability of the ginseng resource—nomatter what the land ownership status is. Consequently,following these regulations will benefit private forestlandowners as well as public land managers by ensuringthe survival and health of the state’s ginseng resource.

Forest FarmingAgricultural bulletins from 100 years ago represent someof the first efforts to encourage various forms of ginsengplanting and husbandry on private lands. This was doneboth to alleviate pressure on wild plant populations andto provide landowners with alternative sources ofincome. Over the past century very little has changed;establishment and encouragement of ginseng on forest-lands are still necessary to produce marketable quanti-ties of root and seed while simultaneously conservingthe resource. Similarly, ginseng continues to be anexcellent alternative crop for landowners interested indiversifying income and operations.

The fondness for forest-grown ginseng root by theeast Asian consumer, coupled with a growing market forsuch root by Americans and others around the world,provide a unique opportunity for small-scale productionof ginseng on forestlands. Many farmers have somewoodland on which cultivation of ginseng might befeasible. Similarly, private forestland owners also havegood prospects for success. The demand for woods-grown ginseng actually favors less-intensive productionmethods over intensive ones. Consequently, for manyPennsylvania forest owners, American ginseng hus-bandry represents an excellent opportunity to diversifyincome, maintain the integrity of forest ecosystems, andincrease appreciation for Pennsylvania’s wild resources.

If all of this sounds too good to be true, it must besaid that there are many challenges to growing ginseng.

An individual plant may take 10 or more years to attainmarketable size and quality in the forest understory andmany difficulties are certainly possible during such along period of time. One of the principal difficulties isthat ginseng does not take well to crowded conditions;many fungal diseases emerge under intensive produc-tion, requiring the frequent application of fungicides.Consequently, low intensity, so-called wild-simulatedarrangements are best, in which natural conditions aremimicked to the greatest extent possible. Other chal-lenges to ginseng culture, however, include herbivory bydeer, seed predation by turkey, and poaching by man.Such challenges, however, continue to ensure that onlya certain variety of farmer or landowner will becomeinvolved in forest farming and ginseng. This, in turn,supports a strong future market. Those interested in themethods and economic potential of ginseng culture onprivate lands should consult a companion publicationto this one: Opportunities from Ginseng Husbandry inPennsylvania (Forest Finance Series #5, College ofAgricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University[UH162]).

A ginseng forest farm


Concluding RemarksInterest in ginseng collection and cultivation in Pennsyl-vania remains strong. This is undoubtedly due to thefact that the price commanded for forest-cultured root ismuch greater than that of field-cultured roots. Because offavorable prices and market demand, the potential foroverexploitation of wild populations in Pennsylvania isof great concern. Estimates for the period 1989–2003suggest that 7.5 million ginseng plants have beenharvested from Pennsylvania forests during the 14-yearperiod (Figure 5). Clearly, if these estimates are evenpartially accurate, the fate of wild plants is a justifiedconcern. It is recognized, however, that many individu-als in the commonwealth continue to actively plantand harvest ginseng and sell this product as “wild.”Thus, the estimates presented in Figure 5 in all likeli-hood represent a wide range of husbandry practices(e.g., wild-simulated production) rather than wildcollection alone.

Sustainability of collection from wild ginseng standsdepends on collector attention and restraint in order toleave plants that are fruitful and vigorous in an area.Every collector needs to determine the harvest quota for

Figure 5. Estimated number of wild American ginseng plants harvested in Pennsylvania (1989–2003). Source: PA DCNR

each collection site. This can be done by a visual assess-ment of the plant stage classes prior to harvest. Usingthis simple technique, you can easily determine thecomposition and abundance of the various stages andadjust the harvest to favor maximum plant reproductionin each and every year. Sustainability also depends onadhering to harvest-season restrictions, allowing fruitand seed to mature before harvesting root, permitting allyoung plants (seedlings, one- , and two-prongers) toremain in populations, and planting of seed from plantsin an area to facilitate good germination and seedlingestablishment.

Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have such a uniqueand valuable natural resource opportunity available; it isin the best interest of all collectors to act responsibly andethically to maintain a legal and thriving trade in thespecies. While a rural ginseng industry is supported bymany in the Commonwealth, there are also those whofeel that wild collection should be prohibited given thepresent scarcity of the plant. Only through communica-tion and cooperation between stakeholders can the dualobjectives—ginseng conservation and commerce—beaccomplished. For this reason, collectors, growers, anddealers must all participate in efforts to develop andshare information about one of Pennsylvania’s mostvaluable forest assets—American ginseng.

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Year

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900,000

800,000

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500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

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Plan

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Visit Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences on the Web: www.cas.psu.edu

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and residenteducation programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, ThePennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building,University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone 814-865-6713.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all personsshall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employmentwithout regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, orqualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federalauthorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and workenvironment free of discrimination, including harassment. The PennsylvaniaState University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any personbecause of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race,religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination orharassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at ThePennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimina-tion policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University,328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY.

Produced by Information and Communication Technologies in the College ofAgricultural Sciences

© The Pennsylvania State University 2004

CAT UH170 5M11/04ps4682

GinsengIndex

Introduction 2

Uses and Commerce 2

Occurrence in Pennsylvania 3

Collection Guidelines 4

Regulations ConcerningGinseng Collection and Commerce in Pennsylvania 6

Where to Collect 9

Forest Farming 10

Concluding Remarks 11

For Further Information 12

Prepared by Eric P. Burkhart, research assistant; and MichaelG. Jacobson, assistant professor of forest resources.Technical and editorial assistance provided by Pat Ford,botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Chris Firestone,wild plant program manager, Pennsylvania Department ofConservation and Natural Resources.

Photographs and illustrations by Eric P. Burkhart.

For Further InformationThe following Web sites provide further informationabout American ginseng and ginseng husbandry.

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation andNatural Resources (DCNR)www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/vulnerable_plants.aspxContains information specific to ginseng in Pennsylva-nia including publications available, educationalopportunities, and dealer contact information.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)international.fws.gov/animals/ginindx.htmlContains information about ginseng in North Americaincluding CITES participation requirements.

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