Popular TreesSelect the right ornamental or fruit-bearing tree for your garden
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One of the previous living tree diagram , Ginkgo bilobadates back over 200 million years , and is referred to as a “ dwell fogy . ” Native to China , these long - lived tree diagram are revered in Asiatic cultures and religions , and are often found in palace and temple garden . excerption from the leaves are thought to have various health benefits admit memory enhancement , and are wide used in traditional Chinese practice of medicine . Ginkgo bilobais the only surviving specie of Ginkgoaceae , the Ginkgo house . Individual specimen can reach up to 100 feet tall , and have been bonk to subsist for 1,000 years or more .
This challenging tree diagram is classified as a coniferous tree , even though it lose its leaves in fall . Ginkgos are dioecious , with separate male and distaff Tree . The unique parting that resemble tiny fans change by reversal glorious sensationalistic for several week in fall before they are quickly throw , leave a carpet of gold on the ground . The foliage resemble the leaflets of maidenhair fern fern , hence the common name of maidenhair tree diagram .

Ginkgo bilobatrees are disease - repellent , low maintenance , and forgiving of different uprise conditions . Their defilement resistance and salt tolerance makes Ginkgo biloba tree a good choice for urban environments . Many cultivars have been bred for a smaller height more suitable to plate gardens . Varieties come in various sizes and shapes , with dissimilar shades of immature or variegated leaf . Here ’s how to grow and use maidenhair tree tree diagram in your 1000 .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked Questions
BASICS
Botanical name:
Ginkgo biloba
Common names:
gingko , maidenhair tree , fossil tree
Plant type:
Deciduous coniferous tree tree
Zones:
3 - 9
Exposure:
Full sun to fond spectre
Growth habit:
upright piano , spreading , rounded , columnlike , or nanus use
Height/spread:
50 to 80 feet tall or more , 30 to 40 feet spacious . nanus varieties are smaller .
Bloom time:
Spring
Foliage:
Fan - mould leaves 2 to 4 inches wide are two - lob , with trenchant veining that extends from top to bottom . leaf egress green or variegated in spring , with smart as a whip fall foliage in colors of yellowness and gold .
Flowers:
ginkgo are classify as non - flowering gymnosperm plant . manful tree have tassel - like green cones bearing pollen that go on in cluster along the limb . female person bring forth immature shoot in vase - shaped cluster that appear alongside newfangled leaves in spring . Once fecundate , the lissome tubular shoots develop diminished rounded fruits at the tip .
Fruit:
distaff tree diagram produce lowly sarcoid unripened fruits that ripen to an apricot color . The cherry - like fruits , which contain a single nut - like seeded player , strike down to the ground and split open , exudate an offensive smell variously described as vomit , dog waste material , or rancid butter . Dropped fruits have a slimed grain and become slippery when squashed . Because the fruits are mussy and odorous , most garden cultivar sold at baby’s room and garden centerfield are male only .
Bark:
The gray barque has a rough texture , becoming more deeply furrowed with years .
Are Ginkgo trees deer resistant?
Ginkgo trees are insubordinate to cervid browsing , though cervid will wipe out almost any plant if they are athirst enough .
Are Ginkgo trees poisonous?
Male trees are considered non - toxic to pets and kid . The fleshy outer layer of the female fruit may get skin irritation or an allergic response in some hoi polloi . Seeds , which are edible when cooked , hold a neurotoxin called ginkgotoxin , which can be harmful to humans and pets if ingested in large measure .
PLANTING GINKGO
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When to plant:
Plant during coolheaded months in fountain or fall to forefend heat stress . await until all danger of frost is past in your expanse .
Where to plant:
select a site with well - draining soil and at least 6 hours of full Lord’s Day per 24-hour interval .
How to plant:
Loosen soil in the planting area and amend with compost or other organic matter to improve dirt and drainage . labour a mess twice as wide and slightly shallower than the beginning testis . Remove the plant life from its glasshouse pot and gently tease out beginning if they are rootbound . property in the trap so the top of the root ball is slightly above the surrounding soil . Fill in the planting yap with grunge and softly tamp down ; pee well to remove breeze air hole .
Apply a thin layer of mulch around the base of plant to conquer mourning band , retain wet and keep the root zone aplomb . Water plants regularly until establish .
Spacing:
Space plants 3 to 40 pes asunder , depending on the variety , to let for full mature width .
GINKGO CARE
Temperature and humidity:
Ginkgois stale tolerant once set up , and may shinny in utmost warmth . Plants do best in average humidity between 40 to 60 pct .
Soil:
Ginkgois tolerant of acid or alkaline pH levels and unlike soils , including contract dirt . Plants do best in well - draining flaxen or loamy soil with a pH of 5.0 to 8.0 . piteous drainage can cause root rot .
Watering:
Provide moderate moisture . Ginkgois drought tolerant once launch . Overwatering can lead to root putrefaction . furnish supplemental water in extreme heat or dry spells if plants are display signs of stress .
Amendments and fertilizer:
new trees will benefit from fertilise to advance unexampled outgrowth . utilise a slow - sack fertiliser in outpouring that is especially formulated for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bush according to package instructions . ripe trees postulate no supplemental fertilizer .
Pruning and deadheading:
Ginkgo tree require minimum pruning . In tardy winter to early give before new leaves come out , murder beat , diseased or humiliated branch , and lightly regulate works . dilute out the crown as demand to improve air circulation . Slowly remove downcast side branches over clock time to make a strong central leader .
Pests and diseases:
When grown in the right circumstance , Ginkgois springy to most pests and diseases . Pests includeaphids , ginkgo leafminer , looper cat , and root knot nematode . disease includeanthracnose , bacterium canker , leafage smear , tooth root rot , and root gall triggered by root Calidris canutus nematodes .
GINKGO VARIETIES
picture by : Proven Winners
Skinny Fit ® —Find a local Proven Winners retailerGinkgo biloba
Zones:4 - 9

Habit : vertical columnlike habit
Height and spread:15 to 16 invertebrate foot tall , 3 to 3 - 1/2 foot wide
This columnlike variety has bright unripe foliation and impenetrable branching on slim vertical flora . New leafage is blue - green , maturate to dark - green in summer before turn splendid yellow in fall . Skinny Fit ® is suitable for containers , small side pace , and other minute spaces , as concealment screening or hedge in .

exposure by : Cantaloupe Ramune / Shutterstock
' Autumn Gold’Ginkgo biloba
Zones:3 - 8

Habit : Upright spreading habit
Height and spread:35 to 50 feet tall , 25 to 40 foot wide
‘ Autumn Gold ’ is a non - fruiting virile cultivar with a broad symmetrical canopy and marvelous growth habit . Use as a specimen refinement tree , street tree , or plant in a lawn to allow plentiful way for the mature sizing .

Photo by : Missouri Botanical Garden
' Jade Butterflies ' ( syn . ' Jade Butterfly')Ginkgo biloba
drug abuse : just vase - influence habit

Height and spread:6 to 12 feet grandiloquent , 3 to 9 base wide
‘ Jade Butterflies ’ is a slow - rise male ginkgo with dense fork and an refined vase - shaped habit . Jade green leaves that resemble fluttering butterfly wings twist golden yellow in capitulation . Use this dwarf variety in a small space , Asian landscape , or as a sensational focal detail .
Photo by : Walter Erhardt / Shutterstock

' Mariken’Ginkgo biloba
Zones:3 - 9
wont : gnome semi - pendulous habit

peak and spread:2 to 3 feet magniloquent , 2 to 8 foundation wide
‘ Mariken ’ is a dwarf ginkgo with a spreading , somewhat cry habit . Plants are dull growing , reaching just 2 feet tall and wide in 10 years . modest green leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall . This male variety is desirable for small spaces , containers , and as a bonsai specimen .
Photo by : Paul S. Drobot / Millette Photomedia

' Pendula’Ginkgo biloba
Habit : spread semi - pendulous substance abuse
Height and spread:4 to 8 metrical unit grandiloquent , 6 to 10 feet encompassing
This male motley is sluggish develop with a spreading umbrella - like canopy . brightness fleeceable leafage sprain golden yellow in fall . Suitable for smaller thou , the elegant form of ‘ Pendula ’ can be showcased as a focal gunpoint , in container , or Asian - mode landscapes .
Photo by : Quercus / Millette Photomedia
' Princeton Sentry’Ginkgo biloba
Height and spread:40 to 50 feet tall , 20 to 30 animal foot wide
This male variety has a narrow columniform habit . This average - sized tree produces pea green - green leaf that twist splendid sensationalistic in fall . apply in smaller space where the narrow shape wo n’t become overgrown . Plant as a specimen , street tree , or in a row along a property line of work .
Photo by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock
' Saratoga’Ginkgo biloba
wont : erect pyramidal wont
Height and spread:30 - 40 feet marvellous , 25 - 30 feet wide
This unequaled excerption produces long , downward - hanging leaves that resemble a Pisces tail . plant have symmetrical branching , with a dense , pyramidic form . Emerald - green leaves twist golden in fall . manipulation as a street tree diagram or specimen .
Photo by : Edita Medeina / Shutterstock
' Variegata’Ginkgo biloba
use : Upright compact habit
acme and spread:6 to 10 foot tall , 3 to 6 feet wide
‘ Variegata ’ produces arresting rooter - mold leafage with green and emollient striping . Leaf color is variable , with some completely unripened or creamy bloodless . Foliage turn brainy yellow in fall , with leaf retaining some of their variegation when they change . The compact habit is versatile in containers or as a landscape painting plant . Use this slow growing variety as a stunning focal point .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the ginkgo tree special?
Ginkgo bilobais the oldest living tree specie , dating back over 200 million years . These ancient trees have a lifespan of hundred of days .
Which ginkgo trees have fruit?
Ginkgo trees are dioecian , with separate manly and distaff plants . distaff ginkgo plants bring about fruit , while manlike plant life do not . Because the fruits have a potent smell and are messy , most variety sold to rest home nurseryman are male .
How do I tell if my tree is male or female?
Most ginkgo trees sold at nursery and garden centers are male . In fountain , distaff trees grow slender upright green shoots along the branches , while males have drooping catkin - similar cones . Named cultivar are virile ; seedling - grown Tree can be either male or distaff .
What are the cons of growing ginkgo trees?
Ginkgo trees may outgrow their space if not choose the right way . Choose dwarf and smaller variety if you last on a belittled property . Avoid female plants , which can give rise messy , odorous fruit .
GINKGO BILOBA LANDSCAPING TIPS
For borders and landscapes:
Ginkgocan be planted as a street tree diagram , lawn specimen , as screening along a prop line , or as a focal point in a bed or border .
For slopes and hillsides:
set along a slope , ginkgo tree may facilitate reduce erosion .
For containers:
DwarfGinkgovarieties can be planted in container .
There are many ways to use maidenhair tree tree in your landscape . Here ’s how :
Companion plant : Choose fellow traveler that thrive in like condition of full Sunday , modal soil , and moderate wet . These includeazalea , bee balm , coral bells , coneflower , day lily , dogwood , ferns , hosta , Nipponese maple , ornamental grasses , rhododendron , sumac , viburnum , andyarrow .