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Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken'

Ginkgo Biloba Mariken Tree

Ginkgoaceae Eastern China

Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken' is a deciduous dwarf tree reaching 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) tall and 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) wide over 25-30 years, originating from a witch's-broom mutation discovered on a cultivated G. biloba in the Netherlands and introduced by Piet Vergeldt. Habit is densely branched and globose to broadly mounded, with annual shoot extension of 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm). Leaves are reduced from species size, fan-shaped, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm) wide, often with a deeper central notch than the species type, and packed densely along short shoots. Foliage emerges bright green in spring, holds medium green through summer, and turns clear yellow over 7-10 days in October before dropping in a 3-5 day window. Plants produced commercially are typically grafted, often onto a standard 3-5 foot (90-150 cm) trunk to produce a topiary or lollipop form; on grafted plants, watersprouts from rootstock revert to typical G. biloba dimensions if not removed. Reproductive sex is male; pollen-bearing strobili 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) long appear sparsely in April. Bark is grey, smooth on young growth, finely furrowed on older trunks.

Native Range

The species Ginkgo biloba is native to eastern China in the Tianmu Mountains at 1,000-3,300 feet (300-1,000 m) elevation, where small wild populations persist in mixed broadleaf forest. The cultivar 'Mariken' was selected from a witch's-broom mutation in the Netherlands and is propagated by grafting; it does not occur in wild populations.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a specimen in rock gardens, conifer-style mixed beds, Japanese-influenced compositions, and as a topiary or standard lollipop form on a 3-5 foot (90-150 cm) stem, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. Suitable for permanent container culture in pots of 7-10 gallons (26-38 L) or larger. Used in collections of Ginkgo spp. cultivars to compare leaf morphology and growth rate against full-sized forms.

How to Identify

Distinguished from typical Ginkgo biloba by extreme dwarfism, with mature plants rarely exceeding 5 feet (150 cm) tall after 30 years versus 50-80 feet (15-24 m) for species seedlings. Leaves are smaller, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm) wide versus 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) on the species. Internodes between leaves are 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) versus 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) on the species, producing a tightly congested branch structure. Grafted standards show a junction line at the top of a straight stem 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) above ground.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread4' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~1 weeks

Spring

As a male clone, only pollen-bearing strobili 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) long appear in April, scattered sparsely along short shoots; pollen release lasts 5-7 days. Reproductive output is sparse compared to full-sized G. biloba. No female structures or fruit are produced.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Yellow-green male strobili

Foliage Description

Bright green in spring; medium green in summer; clear yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

25-30 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants establish well in full sun on soils from sandy loam to clay loam at pH 5.5-8.0; urban tolerance matches typical G. biloba. Watering of 2-4 gallons (7.5-15 L) weekly during the first two growing seasons is typical for plants of this size; established plants tolerate drought once root systems exceed 12 inches (30 cm) in depth. Insect and disease pressure are low in reported plantings. Watersprouts emerging from below the graft union grow at typical G. biloba rates and quickly outpace the dwarf scion, so removal each spring is required to preserve the cultivar form. Container plants require pots of at least 7-10 gallons (26-38 L) and need year-round outdoor exposure in zones 5-8 to satisfy chilling requirements. Cold hardiness drops in container culture compared to in-ground specimens because root zones are exposed.

Pruning

Pruning is performed in late winter (February-March) when plants are dormant. Watersprouts from the rootstock below the graft union are removed annually in spring; failure to remove them causes the plant to revert to species dimensions. Dead twigs are removed from the dense interior canopy in summer to maintain air circulation. Heavy structural pruning is rarely required because growth is slow.

Pruning Schedule

winterearly spring