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American Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) was discovered by a Jesuit missionary in 1716 near present-day Montréal. Although a different species, it was found to be similar to Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng), a plant highly prized by the Chinese for its root. By the late 1750s ginseng was being collected from Canada to present-day Georgia and roots exported in large quantities to China. Both John Jacob Astor and Daniel Boone profited from ginseng.
Little or no effort was put into replanting or preserving natural ginseng fields and by the end of the 19th century, wild ginseng in North America became very scarce. Commerical cultivation was first successful in New York and rapidly spread throughout the midwest and east. Today, Wisconsin is the top producer, but the Catskill Mountain Area of New York State is ideal for ginseng and cultivation is increasing. Wild Ginseng collection is now regulated by law.
(Watercolor, copyright 2000)
Jessie Blake Salmon
All Rights Reserved
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