Meet the Plant: Ginkgo — A Living Piece of Prehistoric History
Planting a tree usually means thinking about the future.
With a Ginkgo tree, you're also planting a connection to an almost unimaginable past.
Ginkgo biloba, commonly called the Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree, belongs to an ancient lineage that existed millions of years before humans walked the earth. Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves are unlike those of almost any other tree you'll find growing in a modern landscape.
And then autumn arrives.
Green leaves turn a brilliant, almost luminous yellow, transforming the tree into one of fall's most memorable sights.
For gardeners who want a shade tree with beauty, character, longevity, and a remarkable story, Ginkgo is difficult to match.
Why Is the Ginkgo Called a "Living Fossil"?
Ginkgo is often described as a living fossil because its lineage stretches back more than 200 million years.
Fossils of ancient Ginkgo relatives show leaves remarkably similar to the fan-shaped foliage we recognize today.
The Ginkgo is also unusual because it stands alone botanically. Ginkgo biloba is the only surviving species of an entire ancient group of plants.
Think about that for a moment.
When you plant a Ginkgo, you're growing the surviving representative of a lineage that witnessed enormous changes to our planet.
That's quite a story for a tree growing in your front yard.
What Does a Ginkgo Tree Look Like?
You'll probably recognize a Ginkgo by its leaves before anything else.
The foliage is distinctly fan shaped, often with a small division or notch through the center. The leaves have a clean, almost sculptural appearance that makes the tree interesting even when viewed close up.
During spring and summer, the foliage is green.
In fall, it becomes something entirely different.
What Color Does a Ginkgo Turn in Fall?
Ginkgo trees develop brilliant golden-yellow foliage in autumn.
It's one of their defining landscape features.
An established tree covered in golden leaves can become an extraordinary focal point, particularly when sunlight passes through the foliage.
Ginkgo trees are also known for sometimes dropping much of their fall foliage within a relatively short period.
One day you have a glowing golden tree.
Soon afterward, you may have a golden carpet beneath it.
Even leaf drop becomes part of the show.
How Big Does a Ginkgo Tree Get?
Ginkgo isn't a small ornamental tree.
At maturity, it can reach approximately 50 to 75 feet tall, with a substantial canopy developing as the tree ages.
It's also a long-term landscape investment.
Young Ginkgo trees tend to grow slowly, so this isn't the tree to choose when you need instant shade next summer. Its value comes from what it can become over decades—and potentially generations.
Give it a location where it has room to develop rather than planting it somewhere its eventual size will become a problem.
How Fast Does a Ginkgo Tree Grow?
Ginkgo is generally considered a slow-growing tree, particularly when young.
For some homeowners, that may initially sound like a disadvantage.
But landscape trees aren't always about speed.
A Ginkgo can become a substantial, exceptionally long-lived tree. Choosing one is less about filling an empty space quickly and more about planting something that can become increasingly beautiful and valuable to the landscape as the years pass.
It's the kind of tree you plant for today—and for whoever enjoys the garden after you.
How Much Sun Does a Ginkgo Tree Need?
Ginkgo grows in full sun to partial sun.
For strong growth and attractive form, choose an open location with plenty of light and enough surrounding space for the tree's eventual canopy.
Because this can become a large tree, think beyond what the planting site looks like today.
Look upward and outward.
Consider nearby buildings, overhead utilities, driveways, sidewalks, and other mature trees before deciding where your Ginkgo should live.
What Kind of Soil Does Ginkgo Prefer?
Ginkgo grows best in well-drained soil.
Young trees benefit from regular watering while establishing their root systems. Once established, Ginkgo is known as a remarkably adaptable landscape tree.
Good drainage remains important, however. Avoid locations where the roots will sit continually in waterlogged soil.
Are Ginkgo Trees Good for Urban Landscapes?
Yes. Ginkgo has a long history of use as an urban and street tree.
One reason is its adaptability. Once established, Ginkgo can tolerate conditions that challenge many other trees, including urban environments.
That doesn't mean it should be squeezed into an unsuitable location. Its mature size still matters.
But where sufficient room is available, Ginkgo can make a striking:
- Shade tree
- Street tree
- Specimen tree
- Lawn tree
- Driveway tree
- Large-garden focal point
- Legacy tree
Its unusual foliage also means it doesn't simply blend into the background.
Even people who don't know the tree's name often stop to look at those leaves.
What's the Difference Between Male and Female Ginkgo Trees?
Ginkgo trees are dioecious, meaning individual trees are male or female.
Female trees can eventually produce fleshy seed coverings that develop a notoriously unpleasant odor when they fall and begin decomposing.
For that reason, male selections are generally preferred for streets, patios, sidewalks, and other frequently used landscape areas.
It's an important consideration when selecting a Ginkgo for a residential landscape.
Does Ginkgo Need Much Pruning?
Ginkgo is generally a low-maintenance tree and requires little routine pruning.
Young trees may benefit from thoughtful structural pruning as they develop, while mature trees typically need little beyond removal of damaged, dead, or problematic branches.
As with large trees generally, substantial pruning work is best handled appropriately rather than repeatedly cutting the tree simply to make it fit a location that was too small from the beginning.
Choosing the right planting site solves many future maintenance problems before they begin.
Is Ginkgo a Good Shade Tree?
Eventually, yes.
A mature Ginkgo can develop into a substantial shade tree, but patience is required because of its relatively slow growth.
If immediate shade is your priority, a faster-growing species may be more appropriate.
If you're willing to wait for a tree that offers unusual foliage, spectacular fall color, tremendous longevity, and historical character, Ginkgo offers something very different.
How Long Can a Ginkgo Tree Live?
A very long time.
Ancient Ginkgo specimens are known to survive for centuries, and some have lived for well over a thousand years.
Of course, no one planting a Ginkgo today can guarantee what will happen to an individual tree centuries from now.
But its potential longevity changes the way you think about planting one.
This isn't merely another seasonal garden plant.
It can be a legacy tree.
Quick Answers About Ginkgo Trees
Is Ginkgo a deciduous tree?
Yes. Ginkgo loses its leaves in fall after they turn brilliant golden yellow.
How tall does a Ginkgo tree grow?
A mature Ginkgo can reach approximately 50 to 75 feet tall.
Does Ginkgo grow quickly?
No. Ginkgo is generally considered a slow-growing tree, especially when young.
What growing zones are suitable for Ginkgo?
Ginkgo is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.
Does Ginkgo need full sun?
It grows in full sun to partial sun.
What kind of soil does Ginkgo prefer?
Well-drained soil is best.
Why is Ginkgo called the Maidenhair Tree?
Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves resemble the leaflets of the maidenhair fern.
Why is Ginkgo called a living fossil?
Ginkgo belongs to an extraordinarily ancient plant lineage and is the sole surviving species of its group.
Are male or female Ginkgo trees better for landscapes?
Male trees are generally preferred around homes, streets, and pedestrian areas because mature female trees can produce seeds surrounded by fleshy material with an unpleasant odor.
Is Ginkgo a good fall-color tree?
Absolutely. Its brilliant golden-yellow autumn foliage is one of the primary reasons Ginkgo is planted as an ornamental landscape tree.
Plant a Tree With a Story
Some trees are planted because they grow quickly.
Some because they flower.
Some because we need shade.
Ginkgo offers something harder to describe.
Plant one today and its fan-shaped leaves connect your garden to a plant lineage stretching back hundreds of millions of years. Watch it turn gold each autumn and, slowly, year after year, become a larger part of the landscape.
With reasonable care and a little luck, that tree could remain long after the person who planted it is gone.
There's something rather wonderful about that.
Interested in growing a Ginkgo of your own?
See plant details, growing information, and current availability for Ginkgo Biloba Maidenhair Trees at Greenwood Nursery.
