Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
An ancient 'living fossil' tree with unmistakable fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant gold in autumn. Remarkably tough and pollution-resistant, it is unchanged for over 200 million years.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; tolerates drought once established
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Ginkgo is the sole surviving species of an ancient lineage that flourished alongside the dinosaurs, earning it the nickname 'living fossil.' It is a deciduous tree with no close living relatives.
Extraordinarily resilient, ginkgo tolerates urban pollution, road salt, pests, and poor soils, making it a favorite street and park tree. Several specimens famously survived the Hiroshima atomic blast and still live today.
How to identify it
- Distinctive fan-shaped (bilobed) leaves with parallel veins, often notched at the tip
- Brilliant uniform golden-yellow fall color
- Mature trees reach 20-35 m (65-115 ft) with a broad, irregular crown
- Dioecious: separate male and female trees
- Female trees produce fleshy, plum-like seeds with a notoriously foul (rancid butter) smell when they fall
Care & growing
Once established, ginkgo is one of the easiest large trees to grow.
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate; quite drought-tolerant once established
- Soil: Adaptable to most soils, even compacted urban ground; prefers good drainage
- Temperature: Very cold-hardy and heat-tolerant
- Feeding: Minimal; light feeding when young
- Propagation: Seed or cuttings; nurseries graft named male cultivars to avoid the smelly female seeds
Habitat & origin
Native to China, where a few wild populations survive in the Tianmu Mountains, ginkgo was preserved for centuries in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese temple gardens.
Today it is planted worldwide as an ornamental and street tree, prized for its toughness in cities from Tokyo to New York.
Uses & benefits
Ginkgo blends ornamental beauty with cultural and medicinal importance.
- Ornamental: Prized shade and street tree for its form and spectacular fall color
- Culinary: Roasted seeds (ginkgo nuts) are eaten in East Asian cuisine, in moderation
- Medicinal: Leaf extracts are widely sold as supplements claimed to support circulation and memory
- Cultural: A symbol of longevity, endurance, and hope
Frequently asked questions
Why do some ginkgo trees smell so bad?
Only female trees produce the fleshy seeds, whose pulp contains butyric acid and smells like rancid butter or vomit when it rots. Nurseries sell male cultivars to avoid this.
How fast does a ginkgo grow?
It is slow to moderate, typically adding 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) per year, but it is extremely long-lived, often surviving over 1,000 years.
Are ginkgo nuts safe to eat?
Cooked seeds are eaten in small amounts in Asian cuisine, but raw seeds are toxic and even cooked seeds should be limited, especially for children.
Why is ginkgo called a living fossil?
It is the only survivor of an ancient plant order and is nearly identical to fossils over 200 million years old, with no close living relatives.
Ginkgo guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Ginkgo.
