COLUMBUS, Ohio — While it can be difficult to find in the wild and isn’t all that easy to grow; the rewards can be amazing for those who hunt or grow ginseng. There are reports of the plant brining $200 to $500 a pound and possibly up to $1,000 per pound on the foreign market.

“Growing ginseng can be done, but it isn’t necessarily easy,” said Karam Sheban, Director of Sustainable Forestry at Rural Action in Ohio. Sheban, who holds a Master’s degree in Forestry from the Yale School of Forestry in New Haven, Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science degree at Ohio State University, is an expert in this highly coveted herb and oftentimes lectures about the plant. Sheban also worked with the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition.

 “Ginseng can and is grown by people everywhere. The ginseng’s natural habitat is in the understory of a forest where the sunlight is being filtered through the shade of the trees above. I tell people if they’re growing ginseng, it is best do so in a forest environment. Unlike the other plants in your garden, ginseng requires shade to grow.

“All you need to get started are some ginseng seeds and somewhere to plant them. For the beginner this can look like tossing some seeds into the woods behind your house and seeing what happens. As you get more advanced you might plant a few test areas in different locations to narrow down the areas where your plants do best.”

According to Sheban, ginseng likes soil that is moist but not wet, adding that north- or east-facing hillsides are best.

“These areas receive the cool morning sun rather than the hot afternoon sun, and the slope allows water to run under the soil without pooling,” he said, “which can cause fungal infections in your ginseng plantings. Look for plants which tend to grow well in the same environment as ginseng, such as maple trees, beech, red oak, walnut and basswood. These species prefer to grow on moist sites and can give you an indication that adding ginseng will be a good fit.”  The following understory plants can also indicate potential high-quality ginseng sites: goldenseal, bloodroot, trillium, wild ginger, jack-in-the-pulpit, spicebush and ferns. Ginseng will often grow in areas where you find these species.

Sheban says growers should plant seeds in the fall and should see ginseng leaves emerge from the ground in the spring.

“This is a long relationship with your ginseng as the plants need around seven years to reach a point in their growth where they are worth harvesting,” Sheban said. “During that time, you may need to protect them from pests such as turkeys and voles, and poachers, people who want to steal your ginseng. If your plants survive long enough the prices may make them worth the wait.”

Ohio ranks sixth among 19 ginseng-growing states, after top producers North Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia. The Appalachian region is the heart of the ginseng range.

If growing ginseng isn’t your passion, hunting them may be the next best thing. And finding it in the wild can yield huge profits.

“Ginseng brings in many millions of dollars to Ohioans,” said Melissa Moser, researcher with Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. “Many people rely on the money they earn from ginseng-digging to pay their bills.”

Ginseng seed is currently selling for $150 to $200 a pound. In the sixth year, a half-acre should produce about 500 pounds of roots, which are selling for $400 to $500 a pound, depending on the quality. Some growers plant a portion of their seed just to grow two or three year old rootlets for resale. These small roots can also be quite profitable, currently selling for $2 to $3 apiece.

Ronny Warren of Adams County is a repairman by trade and a ginseng hunter on weekends. He pads his income with his harvest of ginseng in the rolling hills of the county. 

“My father always said, ‘don’t tell anyone everything you know’,” Ronny says with a huge grin. “For that reason, I’ll never tell people where I look for and find this valuable root. I’ve been at it for the past seven years.

“I’m not going to say it’s overly abundant in these parts, but once you find an area where they’re growing you need to hone in on that spot each season. I normally find them growing wild on the shady forest floor under a hardwood tree canopy. It’s hard to spot in the wild, blending in well with other foliage until fall, when the leaves turn yellow, and the bright red berries are hard to miss.”

The ODNR reports that the biggest potential problem any grower will face is the risk of having their crop poached. There are numerous examples of growers who have nurtured their crop for 10 or more years, only to have it wiped out by a poacher who steals thousands of dollars’ worth of ginseng. In some states the poaching of ginseng is a felony offense. In Ohio, ginseng poaching is currently a third degree misdemeanor.

“To the unpracticed eye, the cluster of green leaves of this plant looks like any other plant,” Warren said. “Once you find one, you need to dig gently around the plant with a wide-bladed soil knife because you don’t want to slice into the root. Once up, the roots will feel ropey and a bit fibrous.”

“You could sell ginseng at a farmer’s market, although the largest market for ginseng is actually international, specifically in East Asian countries like China,” Sheban said. “In the international market, prices paid to the grower for ginseng roots can reach over $1,000 a pound.”