Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
A living-fossil tree, the sole survivor of an ancient lineage, prized as a tough, pest- and disease-resistant urban tree with unique fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant gold and drop almost all at once. Plant only male cultivars, since female trees bear foul-smelling, messy seeds. Slow to establish but exceptionally long-lived and trouble-free.
Field reference
Family
Ginkgoaceae
Growth rate
Slow
Mature size
50–80 ft tall, 30–40 ft spread
Hardiness zone
3–8
Soil preference
Wide range; tolerates compaction, drought, salt, and pollution once established
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Late winter (dormant)
Wood properties
Light, soft, fairly weak wood (~0.45 SG) of little commercial use. Strong, well-spaced limbs and excellent structure; an unusually low-maintenance, sound tree.
Native range
Native to China; one of the oldest surviving tree lineages, now planted worldwide
Green weight
42 lb/ft³
Common questions
Why does my ginkgo smell terrible in fall?
Only female ginkgos produce the fleshy seeds, whose coating smells of rancid butter or vomit when it rots. Plant grafted male cultivars such as 'Autumn Gold' or 'Princeton Sentry' to avoid it.
Why does my ginkgo drop all its leaves at once?
Ginkgo famously turns gold and then sheds nearly its entire canopy within a day or two after a hard frost. It is a normal, dramatic habit, not a sign of stress.
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