Natural Resources: Ginseng

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America. Its root has been collected for centuries, believed by many to contain medicinal properties.

The marketing of ginseng continues to increase, and the demand is often greater than the supply. Over-harvesting and other poor methods of collecting ginseng have eliminated wild populations that were once abundant.

The Daniel Boone National Forest is taking constructive steps to maintain a viable, reproducing population of wild American ginseng.

You must have a permit to harvest ginseng on Daniel Boone National Forest land. Permits are available at District Offices. Learn more about forest product permits.

Harvest Regulations and Policy

The harvest of ginseng will be permitted only under the following conditions:

• Ginseng harvest is permitted for one-month duration, from September 15 to October 15.
• Only one $20.00 permit will be issued per person per year, allowing collection up to one pound of non-dried ginseng root.
• Following US Fish and Wildlife export regulations, ginseng roots collected must be from plants with at least 3 prongs and at least five years of age. How to tell age
• Permits will not be issued forest-wide and will not include the collection of other plant or animal species.
• Plant one-half of the seeds within 50 feet of the harvest site to provide future crops. To help conserve this valuable species, bring the other half into a Daniel Boone National Forest office. A Forest Service nursery will propogate these valuable seeds.

Replanting Ginseng

The Daniel Boone National Forest continues to strive for a balance between conservation and legitimate use of forest resources. Several years ago, the Daniel Boone made significant changes in the permitting regulations for ginseng with the desire to slow, but not stop collection of wild ginseng on the forest. This year’s regulations are the same as those issued last year, with one exception.

In our efforts to conserve this valuable species, we would like to begin a process to grow seed for replanting on the forest. To do this we need to collect native Kentucky seed. We are asking our permittees to plant only one half of the seed they encounter and bring the other half into a Daniel Boone National Forest office. We will collect the seed and send it to a Forest Service nursery to be propagated. In several years, we hope to have enough seed to be able to plant several pounds of seed a year on the forest to conserve the species and ensure that ginseng will be available for collection in future years.

We ask that you put the seed in a paper envelope and label it with the county name and if known, the river or stream drainage from which it came.

Thank you for your help with our efforts to conserve this species.

The Daniel Boone National Forest requests that ginseng harvesters report their level of success back to the office issuing their permit. This information will aid forest managers in their efforts to monitor fluctuating ginseng populations in specific areas.

Title: Plants
Last Updated: September 12, 2011