Ginkgo: Maidenhair Tree
Ginkgo biloba is considered a living fossil, and only one species exists—although several varieties have been cultivated over the years.
Plant care & info
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Genus: Ginkgo (g–INK–oe) from the Chinese yin–kuo, or “silver apricot”.
Common Name: Maidenhair Tree
China
One single species exists, Ginkgo biloba. It has long been in cultivation and many varieties have been cultivated over time. Pretty, green, fan–shaped leaves turn bright gold in autumn before falling. Trees drop all of the leaves over a short period of time, making them easy to clean up. Bark is gray with shallow fissures.
All Ginkgo varieties are dioecious, meaning that they are either male or female. Male flowers, or pollen cones, look like clusters of small catkins. Female flowers are twin ovules at the end of a stem and set in clusters. Although ripe fruit is prized food in Japan and China, most gardeners prefer not to grow female Ginkgo trees, as ripening fruit is messy and smells awful.
35’ to 50’ is common for many varieties. Many dwarf forms exist as well, growing as slowly as 2″ per year in a tight ball shape.
Many remain tall and slender for 15–20 years, with open spaces between lateral branches. Over time they become rounded and full.
Ginkgoes are not fussy and grow in most circumstances. Give them sun for at least 6 hours a day and reasonably good soil drainage.
Most complaints about Ginkgoes are surrounding smelly fruit. This problem is easily avoided by planting male trees. They are typically pest free.
Gorgeous, golden, fan–shaped leaves are hard to beat every autumn. It can grow almost anywhere as well, making it a favorite of gardeners throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Ginkgo is an excellent street tree and looks wonderful when used as an anchor in the garden. They’re also often used in bonsai, and dwarf Ginkgo is a nice choice for container planting.
