Freshly harvested American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) seeds were stratified at two locations over each of three years. Seed development and temperature in the stratification boxes were investigated until the seed was removed 12 months later and direct-seeded in the field. During stratification and seeding (14 months) three embryo stages were identified. In Stage I of 250 days (Sept. to mid-May) embryo length increased from about 0.5 to 1.0 mm: in Stage II of 100 days (mid-May to late Aug. when seeded) length increased to 2.0 mm and in Stage III (late Aug. to late Nov.) length increased to 5.3 mm. Excerpt split width could also be placed in three stages. Changes in embryo length correlated with embryo endosperm length ratio. Insertion compression tests showed that the excerpt softened rapidly in late Stage II and throughout Stage III. The stratification box temperatures at all depths (10, 25 and 50 cm) never exceeded -2$^{circ}C$ even when the air temperatures dropped to -13$^{circ}C$ and were, therefore not damaging to the seeds.