How to Identify a Ginseng Plant in Georgia

American ginseng is a perennial herb prized for its large root that grows in the wild and under cultivation in the northern portion of Georgia. Ginseng plants in the wild are considered to be endangered and are well regulated in the state to prevent total decimation of the species. The root takes a minimum of six years to become mature and harvest-ready. In Georgia, mature ginseng root can only be dug from August 1 to December 31, and ginseng berries must be planted at harvest site to replenish the stand--regulations due to the high market value of the dried root as a health food and homeopathic remedy.

Look for ginseng plants in their natural growing environs: moist hardwood and mixed forest floors in the northernmost regions of the state, where average ambient temperatures hover around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and where plants are mostly shaded from the sun.

Seek out ginseng plants by their green foliage that reaches roughly 1 to 2 feet tall with three groups of five egg-shaped and serrated leaflets arranged in a circle on each straight stem, according to Purdue University.

Recognize ginseng flowers, visible on the plants in the middle of summer, by their greenish-yellow hue, umbrella-like form and placement in the center of the circle of the five leaves at the tip of the stem.

Identify ginseng berries on the plants in late summer and fall by their ruby hue, wrinkled skin and just two seeds held within the berry flesh.