• No license is required to dig wild ginseng on private land in Tennessee, but the landowner’s permission must be obtained.

• A Ginseng Dealer Permit is required to buy ginseng harvested in Tennessee for resale or to transport across state lines.

• No ginseng may leave the state of Tennessee without an export certificate.

• The harvest season for wild ginseng in Tennessee is August 15 to December 31. The buying season is from August 15 to March 31.

• Tennessee state law prohibits the harvest of any wild ginseng plant for sale or export that has green berries or less than 3 prongs.

• Tennessee requires that seeds of collected wild ginseng be planted immediately in the approximate location in which plants are harvested.

• Most state lands are closed to harvesting ginseng, including all state parks, natural areas, and state forests, and nearly all wildlife management areas. Collecting ginseng on state lands that are closed to harvesting is illegal and carries penalties and fines.

• The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Division of Natural Heritage, serves as the state’s ginseng coordinator. This office can be reached at (615) 532-0431 or at:

401 Church Street
7th Floor Annex
Nashville, TN 37243

• A permit is required to collect ginseng in Cherokee National Forest, which can be contacted at

(423) 476-9700 or via mail:
2800 Ocoee Street N.
Cleveland, TN 37312