Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko, also known as the maidenhair tree, is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta, all others being extinct. It is found in fossils dating back 270 million years. Native to China, the tree is widely cultivated, and was cultivated early in hum…
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Tournai, known in Dutch as Doornik and historically as Dornick in English, is a Walloon municipality of Belgium, 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels on the river Scheldt. In the province of Hainaut, Tournai is part of Eurometropolis Lille–Kortrijk–Tournai, which had 2,155,161 resid…
How tall does a ginkgo tree get?
When mature, ginkgo trees reach up to 100 feet tall and have a canopy between 30 and 50 feet wide. Avoid planting the ginkgo tree under or close to power lines or other tall structures.
How to make ginkgo trees grow faster?
How to Grow a Ginkgo Biloba Tree From a Seed
- Gathering Seed. When starting with fresh ginkgo fruits, either pick them off the tree or collect them from the ground in late fall through early winter.
- Cleaning Seed. ...
- Pretreating Seed. ...
- Germinating and Planting. ...
- Caring for Seedlings. ...
- Transplanting Seedlings. ...
Is Ginkgo a gymnosperm?
The Ginkgo is a division of gymnosperm, namely Ginkgophyta, and it has single living species which is Ginkgo biloba. It is the smallest division of gymnosperm. Ginkgo is categorized as an endangered species. Ginkgo a sub-class of gymnosperm namely Ginkgoidae and having the order Ginkgogales.
Is Ginkgo a deciduous or coniferous?
Ginkgo is a deciduous conifer (a true gymnosperm) that features distinctive, two-lobed, somewhat leathery, fan-shaped leaves with diverging (almost parallel) veins. Ginkgo is the only surviving member of a group of ancient plants believed to have inhabited the earth up to 150 million years ago.
Can you keep a ginkgo tree small?
It will ultimately grow into a large tree, so it's not a good choice for small-to-medium sized gardens. If space is limited, look for the upright form, Ginkgo biloba 'Fastigiata' or check out our recommended trees for small gardens.
How much space does a ginkgo tree need?
30 to 50 feet apartGinkgos like a sandy, deeply dug hole to grow well. They don't tolerate poor water drainage. Space trees 30 to 50 feet apart.
Is a ginkgo tree a good tree?
Ginkgo Biloba is a beautiful and ancient tree that originates in China and is an excellent tree for urban landscapes. It has unique fan-shaped leaves that turn to a brilliant coppery golden yellow in the fall. They're highly tolerant of urban pollution, road salt, and are very disease resistant.
How long does it take for a ginkgo tree to mature?
It could take as long as 20 years or more for Ginkgo to fruit. Ginkgo may grow extremely slow for several years after planting, but will then pick up and grow at a moderate rate, particularly if it receives an adequate supply of water and some fertilizer. But do not overwater or plant in a poorly-drained area.
Are ginkgo roots invasive?
Gingko biloba is not an invasive species. And the tree roots go down rather than spreading, so their roots are also not considered invasive.
Are ginkgo trees messy?
Female Gingko, or Maidenhair Trees (Ginkgo biloba) Using the common name, "maidenhair trees" will help you remember an important fact: It is specifically the female that is messy. Male trees do not shed the fleshy, stinky golden balls (shown in the picture) that bring Ginkgo biloba into this discussion of messy trees.
Where should you plant a ginkgo tree?
Choose a location with well-draining soil. Ginkgo trees grow well in acidic, moist, and sandy soil. Ginkgo trees are a good option for coastal properties. Ginkgo trees also work well as street trees in cities because they are resistant to air pollution.
Are ginkgo trees poisonous to dogs?
Ginkgo Trees (Ginkgo biloba) produce gorgeous yellow foliage in the fall. It is important to know that there are male and female ginkgo trees. Males are not considered toxic to pets, however the seed from the female tree contains ginkgotoxin which is toxic to our furry companions.
What is the lifespan of a ginkgo tree?
1,000 yearsScientists have discovered the secret of how the ginkgo tree can live for more than 1,000 years. A study found the tree makes protective chemicals that fend off diseases and drought.
How far should a ginkgo tree be from a house?
Plant in full sun. Plant about 20 feet away from any structures, utility lines or septic systems.
Why is the ginkgo tree so special?
The Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species in the world. It's the sole survivor of an ancient group of trees that date back to before dinosaurs roamed the Earth – creatures that lived between 245 and 66 million years ago. It's so ancient, the species is known as a 'living fossil'.
What are ginkgo trees good for?
Ginkgo has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The leaves were used to treat brain and circulatory problems and respiratory conditions. Ginkgo nuts were used for cough, fever, diarrhea, toothaches, and even gonorrhea. It's now sold mostly as a supplement for memory support or brain health.
How close to a house can you plant a ginkgo tree?
about 20 feet awayPlanting Tips Plant in full sun. Plant about 20 feet away from any structures, utility lines or septic systems.
Where should I plant my ginkgo tree?
Choose a location with well-draining soil. Ginkgo trees grow well in acidic, moist, and sandy soil. Ginkgo trees are a good option for coastal properties. Ginkgo trees also work well as street trees in cities because they are resistant to air pollution.
What is the lifespan of a ginkgo tree?
1,000 yearsScientists have discovered the secret of how the ginkgo tree can live for more than 1,000 years. A study found the tree makes protective chemicals that fend off diseases and drought.
What can you plant under a ginkgo tree?
Before you plant under the ginkgo tree, you should know how to grow the tree harmoniously with other plants....You can plant the following under a ginkgo tree:Japanese Blood Grass.Japanese Forest Grass.Vine Maple.Chameleon plant.Hosta.Ferns.
When was the Ginkgo tree discovered?
History/Lore. The Ginkgo tree is a living fossil, with the earliest leaf fossils dating from 270 million years ago. It was rediscovered in 1691 in China and was brought to this country in the late 1700s. The seeds and leaves have been (and are still today) used in medicine throughout the world.
What type of soil does a ginkgo plant grow in?
The ginkgo grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It tolerates moderate drought and wetness but doesn’t grow well in hot, dry climates.
What is the most beautiful deciduous tree?
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo. Ginkgo biloba. Hailed as “undoubtedly one of the most distinct and beautiful of all deciduous trees,” the ginkgo certainly stands out. Unique, fan-shaped leaves turn a stunning yellow color in the fall. It can tolerate many urban conditions including heat, air pollution, salt, and confined spaces.
How fast does a sage tree grow?
This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.
How long are the leaves of a sage?
Features simple, fan-shaped bright green leaves that are 2–3" long and just as wide.
How tall does a ginkgo biloba tree get?
Varieties of Male Ginkgo Biloba Trees. 'Autumn Gold' (zones 3 to 8) is a popular male cultivar. It grows to 40 to 50 feet tall, with a spread of 25 to 30 feet and has a broadly spreading canopy. 'Saratoga' (zones 4 to 8) has a similar size and shape to 'Autumn Gold'.
What type of soil does a ginkgo like?
It prefers well-drained sandy soil or loam .
What zone do gingko bilobas grow in?
Native to China, ginkgo biloba trees, broadly speaking, will grow well in planting zones 4 through 9. The gingko biloba's uniquely fan-shaped leaves start out green but change to golden-yellow in the fall. Before the whole leaf turns golden, there is sometimes a stage during which the leaf is two-toned, with separate bands of gold and green.
How tall does a pandula grow?
It's a slow-growing male cultivar that has a stocky build and reaches just 8 feet tall at maturity, with a maximum spread of 10 feet. While the cultivar name 'Pendula' usually suggests a weeping form, in this case, the tree is more umbrella-shaped. Ginkgo biloba Saratoga Leonora (Ellie) Enking / Flickr / CC By 2.0.
What is a Ginkgo biloba?
Ginkgo biloba, also called maidenhair, is a broadleaf , deciduous tree.
How to slow down ginkgo?
Many types of ginkgo start out narrow while young but then become quite wide as they age. You can slow down this process a little by pruning them while young so as to force them to produce a single leader. But a much better solution is to select a cultivar known to have a narrow shape. The Spruce / Adrienne Legault.
How tall is a Fastigiata?
‘Fastigiata' (zones 3 to 8) is another popular male cultivar and is a good choice if you want a tree that is narrow (column-shaped). It becomes 30 to 50 feet tall but just 10 to 15 feet wide.
How tall is a Ginkgo biloba tree?
Ginkgo biloba in Tournai, Belgium. Ginkgos are large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 ft), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (165 ft). The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, ...
What is the genus Ginkgo?
The genus name Ginkgo is regarded as a misspelling of the Japanese gin kyo, "silver apricot", which is derived from the Chinese 銀杏 used in Chinese herbalism literature such as Materia Medica ( 日用本草 (1329) appearing at volume 6, page 8) and Compendium of Materia Medica ( 本草綱目 (1578) ).
What is the name of the plant that is known as Ginkgo?
illeg. Salisburia macrophylla Reyn. Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko (both pronounced / ˈɡiŋkoʊ / or / ˈɡɪŋkoʊ / ), also known as the maidenhair tree , is a species of tree native to China.
How is Ginkgo pronounced?
The spelling pronunciation / ˈɡɪŋkɡoʊ / is also documented in some dictionaries.
Where did the biloba tree come from?
The name 銀杏 was borrowed in Japanese イチョウ ( ichou) or ぎんなん ( ginnan) and Korean 은행 ( eunhaeng ), when the tree was introduced from China. Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1771, the specific epithet biloba derived from the Latin bis, "twice" and loba, "lobed", referring to the shape of the leaves.
Where do ginkgos grow?
Ginkgo prefers full sun and grows best in environments that are well-watered and well-drained. The species shows a preference for disturbed sites; in the "semiwild" stands at Tianmu Mountains, many specimens are found along stream banks, rocky slopes, and cliff edges. Accordingly, ginkgo retains a prodigious capacity for vegetative growth. It is capable of sprouting from embedded buds near the base of the trunk ( lignotubers, or basal chichi) in response to disturbances, such as soil erosion. Old individuals are also capable of producing aerial roots on the undersides of large branches in response to disturbances such as crown damage; these roots can lead to successful clonal reproduction upon contacting the soil. These strategies are evidently important in the persistence of ginkgo; in a survey of the "semiwild" stands remaining in Tianmushan, 40% of the specimens surveyed were multistemmed, and few saplings were present. : 86–87
Do ginkgo bilobas grow in full sun?
Ginkgo biloba cross section of tree trunk (source: Muséum de Toulouse) Ginkgo prefers full sun and grows best in environments that are well-watered and well-drained.
How long does it take for a Ginkgo to grow?
The only way to select a male plant is to purchase a named cultivar including ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘ Fastigiata’, ‘Princeton Sentry’, and ‘Lakeview’ because there is no reliable way to select a male plant from a seedling until it fruits. It could take as long as 20 years or more for Ginkgo to fruit.
Is a ginkgo tree pest free?
Ginkgo is nearly pest-free and is resistant to storm damage. Young trees are often very open but they fill in to form a denser canopy as they mature. It makes a durable street tree where there is enough overhead space to accommodate the large size. Ginkgo tolerates most soil, including compacted, and alkaline, and grows slowly 75 feet or more tall. The tree is easily transplanted and has a vivid yellow fall color which is second to none in brilliance, even in the south. However, leaves fall quickly and the fall color show is short.
Is a ginkgo tree hardy in Oklahoma?
Very tolerant of urban soils and pollution, Ginkgo could be used more in USDA hardiness zone 7 but is not recommended in central and southern Texas or Oklahoma due to summer heat. Adapted for use as a street tree, even in confined soil spaces. Some early pruning to form one central leader is essential.
Is ginkgo biloba a good memory enhancer?
There is some support for the tree's medical use. Its seed has been recently been used as both a memory and concentration enhancer with some positive effects on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Ginkgo biloba has also been suggested as relieving many disease symptoms but has never been approved by the FDA as anything but an herbal product.
How tall do ginkgo trees grow?
Ginkgo trees grow 50 to 75 ft. (15 – 23 m) high with a broadly spreading pyramidal crown that grows up to 60 ft. (18 m) wide. As the slow-growing tree matures, the branches start to droop and may need pruning for clearance below its low canopy. However, the strong branches and trunk of ginkgo trees mean it’s resistant to breakage.
What is a ginkgo tree?
Ginkgo biloba tree is a spectacular deciduous ornamental tree with large fan-shaped leaves that turn a stunning buttery-yellow color in the fall. The unusual ginkgo tree leaves create dense foliage and form a pyramidal crown on this tall, elegant shade tree. Also called the maidenhair tree, the ginkgo tree thrives in loamy, well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and in growing zones 3 to 9.
What is the female ginkgo biloba?
The female Ginkgo biloba tree is identified by its orangey globular fruits growing in dangling clusters. Each round fruit contains a single large seed. The main complaint of the ginkgo tree is the offensive stink from the fruit. Also, the slimy flesh of the female ginkgo fruit is particularly messy.
How long are ginkgo leaves?
The ginkgo leaves are fan-shaped with rounded lobes and veins radiating out. Leaves on ginkgo trees grow 2” to 4” (5 – 10 cm) long, with some of the larger leaves being 6” (15 cm) long. Ginkgo leaves turn beautiful shades of bright yellow in the fall.
What is the name of the tree with long drooping cones?
The male Ginkgo biloba tree is identified by its long drooping cones that “bloom” in mid-spring. The seed-bearing cones also produce pollen. The finger-like catkins grow spirally, arranged around a central axis. Often, pictures of male ginkgo trees show the green catkins growing together with new leaves.
How to identify a ginkgo biloba?
The easiest way to identify a Ginkgo biloba tree is by its green, leathery, fan-shaped leaves with two rounded lobes. The rich green leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. The ginkgo tree is also identified by its light gray or brown bark, and orangey-yellow cherry-like fruits that emit an identifiable stench when they fall.
Why are ginkgo trees important?
Additionally, ginkgo tree leaves are used as bookmarks in Japan because they contain chemical properties that protect books from booklice. Extracts from ginkgo are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.
How strong are ginkgo trees?
How to Grow a Ginkgo Tree. Also called the maidenhair tree, ginkgo trees are long living, drought and pest resistant, and incredibly strong; so strong in fact, they were the only trees to survive following the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack.
How tall does a gingko tree get?
Regular watering and a well balanced fertilizer regime is also recommended, at least until maturation — about the time it reaches 35 to 50 feet (11 to 15 m.) tall! Seriously though, gingko tree care is a simple process and will result in many years of shade from this ornamental botanical “dinosaur.”
What are the benefits of ginkgo biloba?
Long touted for its benefits in improving memory/concentration (Alzheimer’s disease and dementia), Ginkgo biloba purported benefits also include relief from PMS symptoms, eye problems like macular degeneration, dizziness, ...
Where did ginkgo trees originate?
Gingko trees are deciduous, hardy shade trees with unique, fan-shaped leaves which are linked to a primitive family of trees commonly found 160 million years ago in China. Considered to be the world’s oldest living species of tree, geological evidence ...
Is Ginkgo biloba a regulated plant?
Ginkgo biloba is not regulated or sanctioned by the FDA and is listed as an herbal product. A note on Ginkgo trees seeds: avoid products that contain fresh or roasted seeds as they contain a toxic chemical which can result in seizures or even death.
Do gingko trees have a yellow color?
Autumn Gold is a male cultivar with good fall color, and both Fastigiata and Princeton Sentry® are columnar male forms. Male forms of gingko trees are mentioned, as the fruiting females tend to have an incredibly nasty odor described by many as smelling of, well, vomit. Hence, it is recommended that one plants only male trees.
How tall is a ginkgo tree?
Before planting a ginkgo tree, consider its estimated height and canopy width at maturity. When mature, ginkgo trees reach up to 100 feet tall and have a canopy between 30 and 50 feet wide. Avoid planting the ginkgo tree under or close to power lines or other tall structures.
How long has the Ginkgo tree been around?
Fossil records show the ginkgo tree was widespread more than 150 million years ago, although in recent centuries it nearly became extinct. Gingko grows hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9. The tree grows slowly but eventually reaches up to 100 feet.
How to grow ginkgo biloba from seed?
If growing from seed, fill a plastic bag with damp peat moss. Bury five ginkgo seeds within the moss and seal the bag. Check for germination periodically; sprouting begins in two to three weeks. Keep in mind that it takes ginkgo grown from seed up to 30 years to mature, so you won't know the tree's gender until then. Most gardeners prefer to propagate ginkgo from softwood cuttings taken from male trees.
What type of soil do ginkgo bilobas need?
Soil, Light and Water. Ginkgo biloba trees require well-draining soil to thrive. They grow in heavy clay, loam or light, sandy soil, but of all these soil types, sandy soil is best for the ginkgo tree. When you dig a hole for your ginkgo tree, fill the bottom with a 2-inch layer of compost.
Can ginkgo be grown in a container?
Growing in Containers. Container-grown ginkgo has many of the same needs as ginkgo grown in the ground, although some of its requirements differ. Choose a container with ample drainage holes. When repotting, use a container that is about twice the size of the ginkgo's original container.
What does a ginkgo tree look like?
You may not even know what a ginkgo tree looks like at first, as the branches and leaves are very small . Once you get to see a ginkgo tree, you will become fascinated. There’s no question that these small trees make some beautiful flowers, and they add elegance to a garden.
How long does a ginkgo tree live?
A ginkgo tree is extremely fragile, as well as being very susceptible to disease and attack by insects. But it can last for a long time.
How long does it take for a ginkgo tree to produce flowers?
Ginkgo trees bud and produce flowers at a reproductive age, when they’re fully mature, usually between 20 – 40 years. Ginkgos are dioecious, so they produce male flowers exclusively at some point or female flowers at another time. Ginkgo trees are deciduous or evergreen trees that grow on the ground, in open areas, and in areas with damp soils.
Why are ginkgo trees so big?
A ginkgo tree is generally much larger than other trees. This large size gives it the ability to create more foliage in less time. In addition, ginkgo trees grow in very large groups, which makes them more attractive than other trees. In fact, many people enjoy watching ginkgo trees in their yard.
Why do Ginkgo leaves turn brown?
Because it has very little water content, this means it has a lot less moisture to lose as the tree dries out. When it is exposed to too much moisture it can wither, die off and turn brown.
What happens if you don't trim ginkgo trees?
If the branches are not trimming properly they will grow to a larger size and affect the appearance of the ginkgo tree .
How to tell if a ginkgo tree is growing?
When you look at your ginkgo tree, you should be able to see the leaves opening up and growing outwards.
Name
Ecology
- Ginkgo biloba is a broadleaf, deciduous tree. The plants are also classified as conifers and are considered dioecious, meaning that some are male while others are female. Typically, knowing that a species has distinct male and female members is when achieving pollination is important, but that is not the case with maidenhair trees.
Description
- Ginkgo biloba trees (the species plants as opposed to the cultivars) reach 50-80 feet or more in height, with a spread of about 30-40 feet. They grow at an average rate: about one to two feet per year. But form, height, width, lifespan, and growth rate are all dependent on the cultivar you choose to grow (see below). The bark on older specimens bec...
Reproduction
- Males have pollen-bearing structures for reproduction that are similar to catkins. Females produce balls, each of which contains a seed; they are covered by a soft, yellow exterior. Despite their fleshiness, these balls are not technically considered fruits, although people refer to them as such in everyday speech.
Cultivation
- While you should plant these trees in full sun to partial shade, they are not fussy about their soil as long as you grow them in well-drained loam that's kept evenly moist. Native to China, Ginkgo biloba trees, broadly speaking, will grow well in planting zones four through nine. They are famous for their use in medicine (see below). All of these male cultivars will grow best in full sun in the N…
Physical characteristics
- Princeton Sentry matures to stand at 40-50 tall. It is narrow, but not as narrow as Fastigiata, reaching 20-30 feet wide. Grow it in zones three through eight. Fairmont is another very skinny tree, reaching at least 50 feet in height by just 15-18 feet across. But it is not as cold-hardy, being suited only to zones five through eight.
Trivia
- Botanical.com recognizes Ginkgo biloba as \"the oldest living tree on the planet that's been used safely for over 3000 years,\" noting that this relic from dinosaur times \"was nearly wiped out during the Ice Age everywhere except in China.\"
Habitat
- The Ginkgo Pages website relates that those Chinese Ginkgo biloba trees were mainly found in monasteries \"in the mountains and in palace and temple gardens, where Buddhist monks cultivated the tree from about 1100 AD for its many good qualities.\" Plant collectors in China from the West eventually were sold on the trees and brought specimens home.
Uses
- The tree's benefits include its use not only as medicine but also as food. It has been used in these ways for centuries in both China and Japan. Roasted nuts from Ginkgo biloba trees have long been thought a delicacy in their native China. The tree's medicinal qualities are now recognized in the West, too. Treatment for short-term memory loss is just one of many medicinal uses for the …
Overview
Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko also known as the maidenhair tree, is a species of tree native to China. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils very similar to the living species, belonging to the genus Ginkgo, extend back to the Middle Jurassic approximately 170 million years ago. The tree was cultivate…
Description
Ginkgos are large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 ft), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (165 ft). The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep-rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched; the crown becomes broader as the tree ages. A combinatio…
Etymology
The genus name is regarded as a misspelling of the Japanese pronunciation gin kyo for the kanji 銀杏 meaning "silver apricot", which is found in Chinese herbology literature such as 日用本草 (Daily Use Materia Medica) (1329) and Compendium of Materia Medica 本草綱目 published in 1578.
Despite its spelling, which is due to a complicated etymology including a transcription error, "ginkgo" is usually pronounced /ˈɡɪŋkoʊ/, which has given rise to the common alternative spellin…
Taxonomy
The older Chinese name for this plant is 銀果, meaning "silver fruit", pronounced yínguǒ in Mandarin or Ngan-gwo in Cantonese. The current commonly used names are 白果 (bái guǒ), meaning "white fruit", and 銀杏 (yínxìng), meaning "silver apricot". The name 銀杏 was borrowed in Japanese イチョウ (ichou) or ぎんなん (ginnan) and Korean 은행 (eunhaeng), when the tree was introduced from China.
Evolution
Ginkgo biloba is a living fossil, with fossils recognisably related to modern ginkgo from the early Permian (Cisuralian), with likely oldest record being that of Trichopitys from the earliest Permian (Asselian) of France, over 290 million years old. The closest living relatives of the clade are the cycads, which share with the extant G. biloba the characteristic of motile sperm.
Distribution and habitat
Although Ginkgo biloba and other species of the genus were once widespread throughout the world, its range shrank and by two million years ago, it was restricted to a small area of China.
For centuries, it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but is now known to grow in at least two small areas in Zhejiang province in eastern China, in the Tianmushan Reserve. However, high genetic uniformity exists among ginkgo trees from these areas, arguing against a natural origin of these …
Cultivation
Ginkgo has long been cultivated in China. It is common in the southern third of the country. Some planted trees at temples are believed to be over 1,500 years old. The first record of Europeans encountering it is in 1690 in Japanese temple gardens, where the tree was seen by the German botanist Engelbert Kaempfer. Because of its status in Buddhism and Confucianism, the ginkgo is also widely …
Uses
The wood of Ginkgo biloba is used to make furniture, chessboards, carving, and casks for making sake; the wood is fire-resistant and slow to decay.
The nut-like gametophytes inside the seeds are particularly esteemed in Asia, and are a traditional Chinese food. Ginkgo nuts are used in congee, and are often served at special occasions such as weddings and the Chinese New Year (as p…
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Ginkgo biloba Pronunciation: GINK-go bye-LOE-buh Common name(s): Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo Family: Ginkgoaceae USDA hardiness zones:: 3 through 8A Origin: native to Asia Uses: Bonsai; wide tree lawns; recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; specimen; sidewalk cutout (tree pit); residential street tre…
Form
- Height: 50 to 75 feet. Spread: 50 to 60 feet. Crown uniformity: irregular outline or silhouette. Crown shape: round; pyramidal. Crown density: dense Growth rate: slow
Ginkgo Trunk and Branches Description
- Trunk/bark/branches: droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; showy trunk; should be grown with a single leader; no thorns. Pruning requirement: needs little pruning to develop except during the early years. The tree has a strong structure. Breakage: resistant Current year twig color: brown or gray
The Ginkgo's Stinky Fruit
- Female plants are wider-spreading than the males. Only male plants should be used as the female produces foul smelling fruit in late autumn. The only way to select a male plant is to purchase a named cultivarincluding ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘ Fastigiata’, ‘Princeton Sentry’, and ‘Lakeview’ because there is no reliable way to select a male plant from a seedling until it fruits. It could take as long …
Cultivars
- There are several cultivars: 1. ‘Autumn Gold’- male, fruitless, bright gold fall color and rapid growth rate 2. ‘Fairmont’ - male, fruitless, upright, oval to pyramidal form 3. ‘Fastigiata’ - male, fruitless, upright growth 4. ‘Laciniata’ - leaf margins deeply divided 5. ‘Lakeview’ - male, fruitless, compact broad conical form 6. ‘Mayfield’ - male, upright fastigiate (columnar) growth 7. ‘Pendula’ - penden…
Ginkgo in Depth
- The tree is easy to care for and require only occasional water and a little high-nitrogen fertilizer that will stimulate the growth of its unique leaf. Apply the fertilizer in late fall to early spring. The tree should be pruned in late winter to early spring. Ginkgo may grow extremely slow for several years after planting, but will then pick up and grow at a moderate rate, particularly if it receives a…