TOPIC: A few questions about Ginseng

Do the leaves of it feel smooth or furry?

Does the stem look almost like bark or does it look green and smooth?

Are the leaves serrated or smooth on the edges?

Do the leaves always grow in a group of five or what?

Do any branches come off of the stem haphazardly or are they always a perfect v shape?

If we find blood root is there a good chance of finding ginseng?

@TNHunter

Are the plants in your area already producing seeds and if so are they red yet?

Fairly smooth, but there are fine little hairs on top
Stem does not have bark. It dies back every fall and grows a new stem each year. It is sometimes reddish in color
Leaves are serated
Usually 5, but not always. Usually 3 larger leaves pointing away from stem and 2 smaller ones pointing back at it.
Always branches out from the same point.
Blood root is a very good indicator plant. So is Maidenhair fern, Cohosh, Jack-in-the pulpit, Solomon's seal, goldenseal and others. Look for maple and poplar trees.

Oka,

Here in Middle TN our ginseng does have berries now, but most are still green. I went scouting today and found 82 plants and did not see a single red berry.

I do have some big mature plants in a seed producing bed and 3-4 of them have some red berries on them now.

I expect if you found a really nice old big healthy plant in the wild today it might have some red berries on it.

It's usually around Sept 1 when most of our seng has red berries.

I posted a few pictures from my scouting trip today, that should help you out with what it looks like. Check that post out.

I also have a bunch of youtube vids out there that you could study and find out what seng looks like in the wild. Below is a link to my youtube channel.

www.youtube.com/yttnhunter

TNhunter