Do you need a permit to dig ginseng in WV?
No license is required to harvest wild ginseng on private land in West Virginia, though written permission must be obtained to dig ginseng on private property in the state. Ginseng dealers in the state must register with the West Virginia Division of Forestry to obtain a permit.
Is it illegal to dig up ginseng?
It is illegal to harvest American ginseng roots on most State lands and all National Park Service land. Some U.S. Forest Service National Forests issue harvest permits for wild ginseng while other National Forests prohibit the harvest of ginseng.
How much is ginseng worth in West Virginia?
In 2019, West Virginia’s market recorded 2822 pounds of “dry” ginseng and 5506 pounds of “wet” (green) ginseng. “Dry” means dehydrated. One pound of “wet” ginseng dehydrates to about a third of a pound of dry. The average price paid for the 2019-20 season was $550 per pound for dry and $160 per pound for green.
How do I sell ginseng root?
There are three main ways to sell ginseng roots. First is to sell directly to wholesale buyers. This gets you paid right away, and you can sell right out of your backyard nursery. Second is to sell to out-of-state buyers.
How do you identify 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.
What does natural ginseng look like?
Ginseng grows close to the ground and has distinctive leaves that are each made up of five leaflets—two small leaflets closest to the center of the plant flanking three large leaflets. Young plants will usually have three leaves while older plants will have more. Ginseng berries are bright red and oblong.
How tall does ginseng get?
Ginseng is an attractive perennial herb that attains a height of only 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) the first year. The leaf drops in autumn and a new leaf and stem appear in spring. This growth pattern continues until the plant reaches a mature height of 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm.).
What looks similar to ginseng?
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is one of those plants that can trip you up when you are looking for American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Sometimes, the vine is buried under leaves and so the individual creeper leaves look like they might be ginseng coming up through the leaf litter.
What is the difference between Virginia creeper and ginseng?
Growth Habits. Ginseng grows in clusters in wooded or rocky areas, and although its leaf prongs are upright, they don’t branch, instead remaining low to the ground. Virginia creeper, by contrast, is a climber that uses tendrils to cling to other plants and surfaces.
How can you tell the difference between Virginia creeper and ginseng?
The ginseng leaves grow in clusters of 3 or more compound leaves, while the Virginia creeper leaves grow singly. The five leaflets of the Virginia creeper are approximately equal in size, while the ginseng leaflets consist of three larger leaflets in the center and a smaller leaflet to each side.