american ginseng (panax quinquefolius) has been valued for centuries as a medicine, particularly in asian cultures. it is highly valuable, and as a result it has been poached to endangered levels throughout much of its range. this thesis first reviews the ecology, history, market, cultivation methods and legality of ginseng in ontario. second, a business plan for growing and selling ginseng in southern ontario is presented. this plan shows that american ginseng can be a profitable, long-term crop, and that, when grown as a crop, it can increase the value of private forested land in ontario versus other crops. finally, the results of the business plan were compared with a similar study done in new zealand, where ginseng was grown beneath radiata pine (pinus radiata d.don.) plantations. the conclusion of this thesis is that american ginseng has excellent potential as a woodlot crop in southern ontario.