Does ginseng grow wild in Wisconsin?
Wild ginseng is native to Wisconsin’s deciduous forests, particularly in western and southern Wisconsin. Harvesting wild ginseng is a highly-regulated process with a season and licenses required by diggers and buyers. Both herbs are the same species, Panax quinquefolius.
Where in Wisconsin is ginseng grown?
Marathon County
More than 90% of the cultivated ginseng grown in the United States is grown in Wisconsin, and 90 to 95% of Wisconsin-grown ginseng is produced in Marathon County. It is estimated that Wisconsin grew 3,000 to 5,000 acres of ginseng in 1990, and sales of the root earned almost $70 million for farmers in Marathon County.
How do you identify wild ginseng?
Identifying American Ginseng American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) can be most easily identified by its three-pronged (or more) five-leaflet display of the mature plant. W. Scott Persons, in “American Ginseng, Green Gold,” says the best way to identify “sang” during the digging season is to look for the red berries.
Where is the best place to find wild ginseng?
Wild ginseng can be found in several US states and it is especially prominent in the Appalachian mountains and foothills. Ginseng thrives in well drained loam soil and is typically found on north or east facing slopes in hardwood forests.
Does ginseng grow in northern Wisconsin?
More than 90% of the cultivated ginseng grown in the United States is grown in Wisconsin, and 90 to 95% of Wisconsin-grown ginseng is produced in Marathon County.
Why is ginseng grown in Wisconsin?
95 percent of the ginseng grown in the U.S. is grown in Wisconsin. Hsu says that the root crop just tastes better if it’s grown here. That, coupled with more than a century of farm practices in Marathon County, make Wisconsin ginseng a sought after product in China and other Southeast Asian Countries.
Why does ginseng grow so well in Wisconsin?
“Those soils have unique mineral characteristics as well as trace minerals that can’t be replicated elsewhere.” Especially important for a root crop that spends four years growing in the soil. Jackie Fett, executive director of the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin agrees, and said ginseng also likes the cold in the area.
What side of the hill does ginseng grow on?
The side of the hill that ginseng grows on is usually Eastern or Northern-facing slopes of its deciduous, mixed hardwood forests. These forested hills are common in the Appalachian and Ozark regions, making it the perfect place for ginseng to grow.