Panax spp.

ginseng

Araliaceae

Eastern Asia and eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

SunFull Shade – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–7

Overview

Panax spp. is a genus of about a dozen slow-growing perennial herbs in the family Araliaceae, found in cool, shaded forests of eastern Asia and eastern North America. Plants rise from a fleshy, aromatic taproot to 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm) tall, bearing a whorl of long-stalked palmately compound leaves, each divided into three to five toothed leaflets 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) long. A single slender stalk carries a small rounded umbel of greenish-white flowers above the leaves in early summer. The flowers give way to clusters of berries that ripen bright red, each holding one or two seeds. The genus includes P. ginseng of northeastern Asia and P. quinquefolius of eastern North America, both harvested for their roots, which contain ginsenosides. Plants grow only in deep shade on cool, moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil and take four or more years to reach flowering and harvestable size. They are sensitive to heat, drought, and disturbance, and wild populations of several species have declined from overharvest. Slow establishment and exacting shade requirements limit cultivation to woodland and forest-farming settings.

Native Range

Panax spp. is native to cool temperate and montane forests of eastern Asia, including Korea, China, and eastern Russia, and of eastern North America. Plants grow in deep shade on moist, humus-rich forest floors, often on north-facing slopes.

Suggested Uses

Panax spp. is grown in woodland gardens and shade beds and is cultivated under forest canopy for its medicinal roots. The red berries and whorled foliage add interest to the shaded woodland floor. It suits naturalistic plantings in cool climates rather than open or sunny borders.

How to Identify

Look for a single stem topped by a whorl of long-stalked, palmately compound leaves divided into three to five toothed leaflets. A solitary stalk rises from the leaf whorl bearing a small rounded umbel of greenish-white flowers, followed by a cluster of bright red berries. A thick, aromatic, often forked taproot below ground is characteristic of the genus.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in early to mid summer, roughly June to July, with a single small umbel of greenish-white flowers per plant. The flowers are inconspicuous and draw small insects. Red berries ripen in late summer to early autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Shade SunPartial Shade

Tolerates up to 3 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-7 years to harvest

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Panax spp. grows only in deep to full shade on cool, moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. It needs a steady supply of leaf litter or compost and even moisture without waterlogging, mirroring the forest floor. Plants emerge late, grow slowly, and take four to seven years to reach harvestable root size. They are sensitive to heat, drought, full sun, and root disturbance, and damp crowding invites fungal root rots such as Alternaria and Phytophthora. Propagation is from stratified seed sown in autumn, which may take eighteen months to germinate.

Pruning

No pruning is required for these herbaceous plants. The single stem dies back to the root each autumn and regrows the following spring. Removing ripe berries before they drop limits self-sowing and is also how seed is gathered for propagation.