Panax trifolius L.
Dwarf ginseng
Dwarf ginseng is native to northeastern North America.
Plants: 4–8″ (10–20 cm) in height, easily missed among forest litter when not in bloom. American ginseng looks somewhat similar, but it is larger, and has clusters of five stalked leaflets instead of three leaflets in dwarf ginseng.
Leaves: In clusters of three, with a larger central leaflet; leaflets are toothed.
Flowers: Blooms are spherical in shape, composed of many minute white or pinkish flowers about 1/16″ (2 mm) around, all emerging from a central point. Blooms appear from May to June. Up close, the blooms are delicate and quite beautiful.
Fruits: Yellowish berry clusters succeed the flowers in July and August.
Habitats: Shade to partial shade, in rich soil in woods or bottomlands.
Medical: Dwarf ginseng root is not used in herbal medicine. See American ginseng.
Online References:
5/10/2021 · Gamble and Kennebec Trails, Berry Woods Preserve, Georgetown, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 2½″ (6.9 × 6.5 cm) 
5/14/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 11 × 7″ (26 × 17 cm) 
5/10/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Cons, Hollis, New Hampshire 
5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 6″ (14 × 16 cm) 
5/14/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 6″ (18 × 16 cm) 
5/17/2021 · Bijhouwer Forest, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (9.7 × 8.5 cm) 
5/17/2024 · Robert P. Tristam Coffin Wildflower Preserve, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.2 cm) 
5/4/2012 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4½″ (12 × 11 cm) 
5/10/2021 · Gamble and Kennebec Trails, Berry Woods Preserve, Georgetown, Maine · ≈ 3 × 3½″ (8.3 × 8.6 cm) 
5/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.3 cm) 
5/20/2023 · Knight’s Pond Preserve, Cumberland, Maine 
4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (12 × 11 cm) 
5/10/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Cons, Hollis, New Hampshire 
5/17/2024 · Robert P. Tristam Coffin Wildflower Preserve, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 4 × 3″ (10 × 7.4 cm) 
5/4/2012 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
5/17/2024 · Robert P. Tristam Coffin Wildflower Preserve, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 3 × 3″ (8.4 × 8.3 cm) 
5/2/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 6″ (14 × 14 cm) 
5/11/2023 · White Trail, Knight’s Pond Preserve, Cumberland, Maine 
5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (14 × 12 cm) 
4/24/2021 · Green Point, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, West Bath, Maine · ≈ 3 × 3″ (8.4 × 8.4 cm) 
5/4/2012 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.8 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Apiales | Includes carrots, celery, parsley, and ivy |
| Family | Araliaceae | Ivy family |
| Genus | Panax | Ginseng—means “panacea” for its curative properties |
| Species | trifolius | Latin for “three leaves” |
Panax trifolius description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.