Panax pseudoginseng aka Pseudoginseng

Panax pseudoginseng is a perennial in the Araliaceae family. Its native range runs from southern Tibet to Nepal. It grows in a temperate climate in the Himalayas. Wild plants occur in forests, scrub, and moist, shaded places. Reports place these habitats between 6,560 and 14,110 feet [2,000–4,300 metres]. Plants For A Future lists ginseng and Japanese ginseng as common names.

This slow-growing plant reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. Its spread reaches about 2.3 feet [0.7 metres]. Kew describes its form as perennial or a rhizomatous geophyte. Its flowers have both male and female organs. The supplied sources give no flower colour or flowering season. They also give no clear details of fruit or leaf shape. Its main garden role is in a shaded woodland setting.

Grow it in moist soil with plenty of humus. A woodland bed or shaded edge suits its needs. Plants For A Future reports tolerance of full and partial shade. Its landscape notes favour dappled shade rather than deep shade. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. The same source lists USDA zones 5–9. It reports survival at temperatures down to at least −15°C.

Seeds can take a long and uneven time to sprout. Sow ripe seed in a shaded cold frame. Sow stored seed as soon as it becomes available. Young plants need shade and protection through their first winter. Use pots deep enough to hold their roots. Move them to their final site in late summer. Spring division provides another way to raise plants. Wild collection for medicine has greatly reduced populations, according to Plants For A Future.

Young leaves and shoots have food uses after cooking. Roots serve as a flavouring for liqueurs or tea. People also chew them. Traditional medicine uses both roots and flowers. Reported uses include digestive complaints, bleeding, and heart conditions. These reports do not establish safety or proven treatment benefits. Avoid use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Plants For A Future also warns against use with anticoagulants or ticlopidine. It describes autumn root harvests from plants aged six to seven years.