The Ginkgo has changed little, having remained remarkably the same for around 150 to 200 million years. The female tree is often maligned in the Western world because when the "fruit", really the seed coat, drops off the tree it emits a foul smell. This smell is from butyric acid, the same compound in Parmesan cheese and vomit. However, the seeds of the female tree are prized in Asia where the gingko has long been used as a medicinal herb as a brain tonic to enhance memory.
Ginkgo is a survivor from ancient times. There is fossil evidence that 150-200 million years ago great forests of ginkgo covered much of North America and Asia. Today this hardy deciduous tree, whose leaves turn a bright yellow in the fall, is prized for its many horticultural attributes. It is enjoyed as a landscape plant the world over. Male trees grow taller and more upright than female trees which are smaller and have a bigger spread. Both exhibit an irregular pattern of branching, called dichotomous brancing, that makes this tree so appealing. The leaves are an easy recognizable feature of this deciduous tree. With a width of 2" to 3+". They consist of a leaf stalk of 3" and a fan-shaped blade with no mid-rib, so the foliage flutters even in a slight breeze. The leaf resembles the leafshape of a Maidenhair fern (Adiantum), hence the plant's nickname, the Maidenhair tree.
| Plant Types: | Perennial, Tree |
| Light: | Partial Shade to Full Sun |
| Height: | 50 feet to 75 feet |
| Width: | 40 feet to 50 feet |
| Zones: | 4a to 8a |
| Bloom Seasons: | Early spring, Mid spring, Late spring |
| Leaf Color: | Green |
| Special Features: | Attractive foliage, Not North American native |
| Shape: | Pyramidal, Rounded |
| Type of Soil Preferred: | Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Slightly-Alkaline, Well-Drained |
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Plant Ginkgos in early spring, in a spot that is sheltered from winds. Space them 20-30' apart from each other and at least 30' away from closest structure. Grow from half-hardened summer cuttings or from seeds.
The seed coats are enlarged and are generally thought to have a foul smell, but the rest of the seed is edible. To harvest these seeds let them drop to the ground. Step on the seeds with the seed coat present (preferably with footwear you don't mind smelling of vomit). The edible part of the seed will be separated from the seed coat, at which point you can pick it up.
Grow in full sun. They prefer hot summers, and are tolerant of many conditions, including urban environments. As only the female plant produce fruit, which smells repugnant to many people, most cultivated ginkgo are male.
Ginkgos require porous loam soil with regular waterings until it reaches 20 ft. tall, then moderately water tree. They are drought tolerant.
Feed in late winter and early fall.
Ginkgos require little pruning after they mature (other than removal of dead or diseased wood). As the Ginkgo is maturing, the goal of pruning is to provide a strong central leader. This is to prevent multiple trunks from developing. After 3 to 4 years, remove some of the lower branches. Prune during early spring.
Ginkgos are generally pest free.