PlantPlaces.com Plant Details: Plant Name, Size, Maps, Comments

Category: Tree
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Genus: Ginkgo
species: biloba
Origin: Eastern China
Size: 50 (min) to 80 (max)
Size Description: Large Tree
Notes:
PlantPlaces.com Plant of the Week: November 4, 2012
Ginkgo biloba – Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree

The Ginkgo is one of the most beautiful trees in the landscape, especially in the fall season. Every fall around Halloween you can always count on seeing the bright, clear, yellow fall color of the Ginkgo. No other tree has leaves with such clean, clear, yellow fall color. The leaves are so unique that once you learn Ginkgo you never forget it. The most interesting thing about Ginkgo that makes you love and respect it is its history.

The mystery of how Ginkgo has survived for 270 million years is something I’ll never understand. Ginkgo has stood the test of time. A relic that was around during the dinosaur era and somehow survived through whatever nature could throw at it. Ice Age, Atomic Bombs, New York City. Ginkgo is the toughest tree known to man.

Ginkgo is a large deciduous tree. It is dioecious, meaning there are male trees and female trees. The female trees produce the fruits that can be rather obnoxious. The fruit is actually a nut surrounded by a fleshy coating. When the fruit falls to the ground the fleshy coating emits a foul odor that smells like dog vomit. People that step on it will carry it with them as they go. The nuts are actually a delicacy in Asia. It is also one of the most popular medicinal plants on the market. Supposedly it helps with memory loss.

Ginkgo makes a great tree for the landscape. Typically we choose male clones to plant in our yards. ‘Autumn Gold’ is the most popular male clone on the market. There are many dwarf clones as well. There is a ‘Spring Grove’ Ginkgo and a clone called ‘Jade Butterflies' that are both dwarf clones.

Locally there are some magnificent specimens in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Spring Grove Cemetery has several of the largest specimens in the area. There is another large specimen at the Behringer-Crawford museum in Devou Park in Covington. Another one of the largest trees stands in front of RC Hinsdale grade school in Edgewood Kentucky. The largest planting of Ginkgo is at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital complex in Avondale. Over 100 Ginkgos were planted around the buildings. Let’s hope they are all male!

View other PlantPlaces.com Plant of the Week entries here.


Characteristics: Recommended Dry Soil Tolerant Rain Garden

Availability:		Some Availability
Sustainability:		Outstanding	See other plants that are sustainable.
Full Sun Tolerance:		Performs Well	See other plants that like full sun.
Part Shade Tolerance:		Lower Than Average Performance
Deep Shade Tolerance:		Lower Than Average Performance

Colors

Colors Sampled from This Plant	Plants with Similar Colors	Color Description
	See other plants with this color	Fall Color
	See other plants with this color	Fall color
	See other plants with this color	Fall Color
Search by color using your Android™ phone's camera! Download it here, for free, on the Google Play™ Store! Or, read more about it here

Venerable Trees
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Age: Very Old
Photo Credit: R. Scott Beuerlein
Season: Winter

Fruit on female trees
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Photo Credit: R. Scott Beuerlein
Season: Summer

Foliage
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Photo Credit: R. Scott Beuerlein
Season: Summer

Two Old Giants
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Photo Credit: R. Scott Beuerlein
Season: Winter

Ginkgo biloba from distance
Location: Schott Education Center Parking Lot
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: Fall 2006

Leaves of Ginkgo biloba
Location: Schott Education Center Parking Lot
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: Fall 2006

Spur on twigs of Ginkgo biloba
Location: Schott Education Center Parking Lot
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: Fall 2006

Trunk of Ginkgo biloba
Location: Schott Education Center Parking Lot
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: Fall 2006

Mature tree in fall color
Location: Hinsdale Elementary, Edgewood, KY
Photo Credit: Steve Foltz
Season: Oct 24

Trunk of very old tree
Location: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY
Photo Credit: Steve Foltz


Very old tree
Location: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY
Photo Credit: Steve Foltz


Venerable trees
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Age: Very old
Photo Credit: R. Scott Beuerline
Season: Winter

Trees planted along RR tracks by P&G
Location: Spring Grove Ave., Ivorydale
Age: Young
Photo Credit: Patrick Kelsch


Ginkgo biloba on the north side of Kew
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: September 2011

Another Ginkgo at Kew.
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: May 2011

Large Ginkgo biloba at the Library of Congress, Jefferson Building
Location: Library of Congress, Jefferson building.
Photo Credit: Brandan Jones
Season: Spring 2012

Comments, Find this Plant

Comments about this plant? Looking for this plant? Have a picture to submit? Let us know!
Simply complete the form below and click Send Comments.

Please choose the option that best describes your comment or question. I have a general comment or question I would like to apply Plant Places in my area I would like to apply Plant Trials in my area I would like to suggest a plant for this website I would like to submit a picture to this website I have a plant question that I'd like to post on a forum I would like to advertise with PlantPlaces.com/PlantTrials.com
Your Name:
Your Email:
Subject:
Comments:
YES! I would like to receive updates on PlantTrials.com and PlantPlaces.com via email.

Challenge Word: You MUST correctly enter the two words you see below for your email to properly send to www.PlantPlaces.com.


Type what you see in the image above:

Can we post your comments on our plant discussion groups? This will give more people a chance to answer your question or respond to your comments.
We will keep your email address confidential.
Yes
No Thanks