Wild notoginseng is a wild plant of the genus Panax, and its rhizome is often used as medicine in folk practice.

Wild notoginseng is a folk common name for a group of wild plants in the genus Panax. It is relatively common in the mountainous areas of southwest China and generally refers to closely related plants in the Araliaceae family, such as Panax japonicus and Panax zingiberensis. They are close relatives of cultivated notoginseng in the same genus and are named for growing under forest in the mountains and wilds over long periods. Their underground rhizomes are thick and are often used as a local medicinal material.

This plant is a perennial herb, usually several dozen cm tall, with palmately compound leaves whorled at the top of the stem. In summer it produces small umbel-like yellow-green flowers, and in autumn it bears bright red berries. The underground rhizome is horizontal and fleshy, with obvious nodes on the surface, which is how Panax japonicus got its name.

Wild notoginseng prefers cool, moist environments and is mostly distributed under mountain forests at higher altitudes. It is afraid of direct strong light and is suited to loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Wild resources are now becoming increasingly scarce, and many places advocate protection; when encountered in the wild, it should not be dug up at will.

In folk practice, the roots of wild notoginseng are often used for bruises and injuries and similar situations, and it is regarded as a wild substitute for notoginseng, but its medicinal properties and components differ, so a professional should be consulted before using it as medicine. At the same time, it must be distinguished from the similarly named Asteraceae plant Gynura segetum; the latter contains compounds that may damage the liver, and misuse carries relatively high risk. The two must not be confused.