Asian ginseng is a slow-growing woodland herb whose forked, human-shaped root has been prized as a medicine in East Asia for centuries. It is native to the mountains of Korea, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East and is not native to the US—the wild ginseng of eastern US forests is its close relative, American ginseng. It is also called Korean ginseng.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A perennial about 12–24 in (30–60 cm) tall with a single stem and a spindle-shaped, often forked root.
- Leaves
- 3–6 palm-shaped compound leaves form a whorl at the top of the stem; each has 3–5 finely toothed leaflets.
- Flowers
- A single round cluster () of 30–50 tiny greenish-yellow flowers rises on a stalk 6–12 in (15–30 cm) long.
- Fruit
- Bright red, roundish berries about 1/4 in (6–7 mm) across, with white kidney-shaped seeds.
Look-alikes
The two look very much alike and are hard to tell apart from photos. American ginseng is usually shorter (6–18 in, 15–46 cm), and it is the ginseng native to eastern US woods. It is the one shipped to China since the early 1700s and grows mainly in the Appalachian and Ozark mountains.
Why they get mixed upSame genus, same whorled five-part leaves and red berries.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Shady mountain forests
- Shade-covered farm beds
- Range
- Native to the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East. It is grown commercially mainly in China, Korea, and Russia.
- Preferred conditions
- Needs deep shade; farmers grow it under shade structures.
Growing it
- Propagation
- Grown from seed. Because it grows slowly, roots are usually harvested at 4–6 years old (5–6 years is most often given).
- Toxicity
- Generally considered safe for adults for short periods (under six months), but it can interact with drugs such as warfarin and is not considered safe during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or for children. Reported side effects include headache, raised blood pressure, and insomnia.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
- Status
- The species is protected in Russia and China.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The Chinese name rénshēn (人蔘) has been explained as "form of a man," a reference to the root's human-like shape.
- It is sold dried as white ginseng, or steamed and dried as red ginseng.
More species to explore
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