ginseng Question

Do some plants always stay 3 prongers ? I know some 17 years old that are still 3 progers.

I guess if you have 17 year old plants that are 3 prong plants, some plants stay 3 prongers. I know that some 2 prong plants stay 2 prong for many years. I have dug plants that have 2 prongs that was over 20 years old.

I've got several large plants I dug wild and planted under my side porch
They come up as either 4 prong or 5 prong, varies from year to year

There is no rhyme or reason to how many prongs a plant has. Genetics, soil nutrients, and moisture can all play into it. I've seen 3 year old 3 prongs and 4 and 5 year old 4 prongs. And as Don said some very old plants may only have two prongs. I believe I read one time that if you put next year's bud under a microscope you can see how many prongs next years plant would have. I've never tried it so I can't say for sure. I found a 5 pronger several years ago and transplanted it. It has never been a 5 prong since. This year it is a 4 and if I remember correctly a couple times it was a 3 pronger.

I have seen some real big 2 prong roots. This usually happens when a woods had a fire go through it or bugs ate the bud stem off. Fire can damage the top of a bud stem. I dig a woods that just about only has 2 prong seng in it. This woods has had several fires in it the last 30 years.

Why i was asking at one time i thought Illinois ginseng law said only legal plant was 4 prongs or 10 years old?

They Did, but changed the law.