Overview
Ginkgo biloba is ginkgo (maidenhair tree), a large upright deciduous tree growing 50-80 feet (15-24 m) tall and 25-40 feet (7.5-12 m) wide. Fan-shaped (bilobed) leaves 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) wide on long petioles. Turns golden-yellow in fall — the entire canopy changes rapidly and drops within 1-2 weeks. In Ginkgoaceae. The sole surviving species of a lineage dating to the Permian period (270 million years ago) — a living fossil. Native to eastern China — functionally extinct in the wild. Female trees produce fleshy seed coverings that smell strongly of butyric acid (rancid butter). Plant only male cultivars: 'Autumn Gold' (broad conical), 'Princeton Sentry' (narrowly columnar), 'Magyar' (upright oval). The female fruit odor is the primary limitation. The sex of seedling-grown trees cannot be determined until the tree is 20+ years old. No significant insect or disease problems — one of the most pest-free urban trees. Tolerates air pollution, salt, compacted soil, and drought. The angular branching is sparse when young — fills in with age. Toxic (raw seeds contain ginkgotoxin). Deer-resistant. Zones 3-9. Full sun. Growth rate is slow to moderate.
Native Range
Native to eastern China — Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. Functionally extinct in the wild. Cultivated in China and Japan for over a thousand years.Suggested Uses
Grown as a street tree, shade tree, and specimen tree spaced 25-40 feet (7.5-12 m). Plant male cultivars only. Tolerates urban conditions. No significant pests. Golden-yellow fall color. Toxic (raw seeds). Deer-resistant. Zones 3-9.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height50' - 80'
Width/Spread25' - 40'
Reaches mature size in approximately 75 years
Bloom Information
Mid spring (April-May). Dioecious — male trees produce yellowish catkins, female trees produce inconspicuous paired ovules. Wind-pollinated. Female trees produce fleshy tan-orange seed coverings in October — strong butyric acid odor.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Not showy; dioecious — male trees produce yellowish catkins, female trees produce inconspicuous paired ovules on long stalksFoliage Description
Medium to dark green, fan-shaped (bilobed), 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) wide on long petioles; turns golden-yellow in fall — the entire canopy changes rapidly and drops within 1-2 weeksGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun (6+ hours). Well-drained soil pH 5.5-7.5 — tolerates clay, sand, compacted soil, salt, and air pollution. Drought-tolerant once established. No significant pest or disease problems. Plant only male cultivars (avoid female fruit odor). Prune in late winter (February-March). Toxic (raw seeds). Deer-resistant. Zones 3-9.Pruning
Prune in late winter (February-March). Develop a single central leader when young. Remove dead, crossing, or weak-angled branches. The angular sparse branching when young is natural — do not over-prune to compensate.Pruning Schedule
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early spring