Ginseng Identification

[Weasel]

I was walking a location where I know ginseng grows and believe I found plants that are three to six inches tall. Most have flowers blooming and the flowers have four petals. All of the images that I have found on the net show five petals. Are different petal counts possible or did I find some "not 'seng"?

Brad,
So far, I haven't been able to find any sprouts from the seed purchased from you last fall. When should they be popping up?

[Weasel]

Went on another trip through the woods and decided what I had found previously was not ginseng. In the same area we found plants just sprouting that do match pics on the net.

We did a little scratching around in a patch that was raked and generously seeded. I think we found a couple ginseng seeds that had a 1/4" root starting.

Last fall was the first I had ever looked at ginseng and actually realized what it was so we are new to this.

[Brad]

Hi Weasel,

Ginseng shouldn't be blooming now, in fact, most of it is not up yet in this area.

The seed I have checked on are just getting their tails also, so it shouldn't be long.  Maybe a couple more weeks give or take a week.