Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Why Should I Grow a Ginkgo biloba Tree?

Growing a Ginkgo biloba tree in your garden or landscape offers a myriad of benefits:

Historical Significance: As a living fossil, the Ginkgo biloba tree provides a living connection to the age of dinosaurs, adding a profound historical element to your garden.

Striking Fall Color: Its fan-shaped leaves turn a vibrant yellow in autumn, creating a stunning visual display that brightens any landscape.

Pollution Tolerance: Highly resilient to urban pollution, making it an excellent choice for city gardens and street plantings.

Low Maintenance: Ginkgo trees require minimal care once established, making them ideal for busy gardeners.

Disease and Pest Resistance: Remarkably resistant to common pests and diseases, ensuring a healthy and robust tree with little intervention.

Medicinal Value: Leaves can be harvested for medicinal uses, including supplements believed to enhance cognitive function.

Adaptable: Thrives in a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions.

Leaves and fruit of the ginkgo tree in fall

Ginkgo biloba Benefits

Ginkgo biloba, often referred to simply as ginkgo, has been widely studied for its potential health benefits, largely due to its high content of flavonoids and terpenoids, which possess strong antioxidant properties. Here are some of the notable health benefits associated with ginkgo:

Cognitive Function and Memory: Ginkgo is best known for its potential to enhance cognitive function, particularly in the elderly. Some studies suggest it may improve memory, speed of thinking, and attention in healthy individuals as well as those experiencing cognitive decline.

Circulation and Heart Health: Ginkgo may improve blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of platelets. This can benefit heart health and has been used to treat conditions related to poor circulation.

Antioxidant Properties: The antioxidants found in ginkgo can neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases.

Eye Health: The antioxidant properties of ginkgo may also protect against oxidative damage in the eyes, potentially slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: Some evidence suggests that ginkgo could alleviate symptoms of tinnitus and may improve hearing loss related to reduced blood flow.

Anxiety and Depression: Limited studies indicate that ginkgo might help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by modulating neurotransmitter activity.

Migraine and Headache Relief: Ginkgo’s anti-inflammatory and vascular regulation properties may help in the prevention or relief of migraines and headaches.

Peripheral Artery Disease: By improving blood flow, ginkgo may reduce symptoms of peripheral artery disease, such as pain when walking.

Despite these potential benefits, it’s important to approach ginkgo supplementation cautiously. Ginkgo can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners, and may not be suitable for everyone. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking other medications.

Garden Design With a Ginkgo Tree

Incorporating a Ginkgo biloba tree into your garden design offers both aesthetic and functional benefits, making it a focal point throughout the seasons. Here’s how to design your garden with a Ginkgo tree:

Create a Focal Point: Plant the Ginkgo as a solitary specimen in a visible spot to showcase its unique shape and beautiful foliage. Its striking form, especially in fall when the leaves turn a brilliant yellow, can become the centerpiece of your garden.

Complement with Underplanting: Pair with perennials and bulbs that bloom at different times to ensure continuous interest. Spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, summer blooms like astilbes, and autumn flowers such as sedums can complement the seasonal changes of the Ginkgo. Use plants with contrasting foliage textures and colors to highlight the Ginkgo’s fan-shaped leaves. Hostas, ferns, and groundcovers like Ajuga add variety beneath the tree’s canopy.

Utilize its Shade: As the Ginkgo matures, it can provide ample shade, creating opportunities to design shaded seating areas or shade-tolerant plant gardens beneath its canopy.

Enhance Seasonal Transitions: Emphasize the Ginkgo’s fall color by placing it against a backdrop of evergreen shrubs or alongside shrubs with contrasting autumn hues like viburnum.

Use in Themed Gardens: Given its ancient origins and prominence in Asian culture, a Ginkgo tree fits perfectly into historical or Asian-inspired garden designs, especially when paired with elements like Japanese maples, azaleas, stone lanterns, bamboo, or a koi pond.

When to Plant a Ginkgo Tree

The optimal time to plant a Ginkgo biloba tree is during the dormant season, which falls between late fall, after the leaves have dropped, and early spring, before bud break. Planting during this period minimizes stress on the tree, allowing it to establish roots in its new location without the added strain of supporting leaf growth or withstanding extreme temperatures. In cooler climates, aim for early fall or late spring planting to give the tree ample time to acclimate before either the onset of winter cold or summer heat.

Where to Plant a Ginkgo Tree

Sunlight: Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Ginkgo trees need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day and develop the best fall color in full sun.

Soil: Ginkgo trees are adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, from acidic to alkaline pH levels, and can adapt to loamy, clay, sandy, and nutrient-rich soils but avoid waterlogged or extremely dry soils. Their remarkable tolerance for compacted soil makes them an excellent selection for urban settings.

Space: Consider the mature size of the tree. Ensure there’s enough room for its canopy to grow without interference from buildings, power lines, or other trees.

Protection: While Ginkgo trees are remarkably resilient, young trees might need protection from extreme winds or frost in very cold regions.

How to Plant a Ginkgo Tree

Prepare the Planting Site: Dig a hole as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. Loosen the soil around the hole to facilitate root growth.

Inspect the Roots: If the tree is pot-bound, gently tease out the roots. If it’s balled and burlapped, remove the burlap and any wire baskets.

Position the Tree: Place the tree in the center of the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil. This helps prevent water from pooling around the trunk.

Backfill the Hole: Fill the hole with the excavated soil, mixing in compost if the soil is very poor. Firm the soil around the tree to eliminate air pockets.

Water Thoroughly: After planting, water the tree generously to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Continue to water regularly, especially during the tree’s first growing season.

Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the tree’s base, extending out to the drip line, to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture accumulation and potential rot.

Stake if Necessary: If the tree is tall or in a windy location, staking may be necessary for the first 1-2 years to ensure stability.

Ginkgo Care

Caring for a Ginkgo biloba tree involves several straightforward practices that ensure the tree remains healthy, grows well, and displays its unique beauty year after year. Here are the key aspects of Ginkgo tree care:

Watering

• Young Trees: Newly planted Ginkgo trees require regular watering to establish their root systems. Water deeply once a week, allowing the soil to become slightly dry between waterings.
• Established Trees: Mature Ginkgo trees are drought-tolerant and generally require minimal watering. However, during prolonged dry spells, occasional deep watering will benefit the tree.

Mulching

• Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree, extending out to the drip line but not touching the trunk. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds.

Fertilizing

• Ginkgo trees typically do not require frequent fertilization. If growth seems slow or the foliage looks pale, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pruning

• Prune Ginkgo trees in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Focus on removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to maintain the tree’s health and shape.
• Ginkgo trees have a naturally attractive form, so extensive pruning is not usually necessary. However, you can lightly shape the tree as needed.

Propagating A Ginkgo Tree from Seed

Collect Seeds: Wait for the ginkgo fruits to drop naturally from the tree in the fall. Collect the seeds from the ground, preferably choosing ones that have naturally split open.

Clean Seeds: Wear gloves to handle the seeds, as the flesh can cause skin irritation. Clean the flesh off the seeds under running water.

Stratification: Ginkgo seeds require a cold stratification period to break dormancy. Mix the seeds with slightly moist sand or peat moss and store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.

Sowing: After stratification, sow the seeds in pots filled with a well-draining seed starting mix. Plant the seeds about an inch deep and water thoroughly.

Germination: Place the pots in a warm, bright location. Germination can take several weeks to a few months. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Care for Seedlings: Once seedlings emerge, ensure they receive plenty of light and water. Transplant them to larger pots or outdoors when they are strong enough to handle.

Pests, Diseases, Common Problems

Ginkgo biloba trees are remarkably resilient and have few significant problems regarding pests and diseases. Their ancient lineage has equipped them with excellent defenses, making them a low-maintenance choice for many landscapes. However, like all trees, they are not entirely immune to issues. 

Pests

Ginkgo Leafminers (Stigmella multispicata): This pest is one of the few that specifically targets Ginkgo, causing minor damage by creating tunnels in the leaves. However, it rarely harms the overall health of the tree.

Aphids: Sometimes, aphids may infest Ginkgo trees, sucking sap from the leaves and producing honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold. Aphid problems are usually minor and can be managed with water sprays or insecticidal soap.

Diseases

Botrytis (Gray Mold): This fungus might affect the leaves in extremely wet conditions, but it’s rare and typically not severe.

Verticillium Wilt: Although infrequent, Verticillium wilt can affect Ginkgo, causing wilting and death of branches. There’s no chemical control, but maintaining tree health can help prevent infection.

Common Problems

Fruit Odor: Female Ginkgo trees produce fruit that, when decomposed, releases butyric acid, smelling like rancid butter. This is often considered the most significant drawback of planting female Ginkgo trees in urban or residential areas.

Root Space: Ginkgo trees prefer not to be confined, so limited root space in urban settings can sometimes inhibit their growth, though they generally adapt well to such conditions.

Soil Compaction: While Ginkgo trees are tolerant of many urban challenges, severely compacted soil can limit growth and vigor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Ginkgo Trees Special?

Ginkgo biloba trees are special because they are considered “living fossils,” virtually unchanged for over 200 million years. They symbolize endurance and resilience, having survived major extinction events. Their unique fan-shaped leaves, which turn a stunning shade of yellow in the fall, along with their exceptional adaptability to urban environments, make them a favorite in landscapes worldwide. Furthermore, ginkgo trees are known for their medicinal properties, particularly in improving memory and cognitive functions.

Ginkgo Tree Symbolism

The Ginkgo tree is a symbol of peace, hope, resilience, and longevity. In East Asia, it’s often associated with endurance and vitality, partly because some living specimens are thousands of years old. The tree’s ability to survive and even thrive in adverse conditions has made it a powerful symbol in various cultures around the world.

Best Place to Plant a Ginkgo Tree

The best place to plant a Ginkgo biloba tree is in an open space that receives full sun – at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. It should be planted in well-drained soil, away from confined spaces or buildings, considering its potential to grow large over time. Ginkgos are tolerant of pollution, making them excellent choices for urban and street plantings, as well as parks and large gardens.

Oldest Ginkgo Tree in the World

The oldest known living Ginkgo biloba tree is believed to be in the Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains in China, estimated to be over 1,400 years old. This ancient specimen is a testament to the ginkgo’s longevity and resilience.

Ginkgo Tree Common Name

The Ginkgo biloba tree is commonly known as the maidenhair tree, due to the resemblance of its leaves to the pinnae of the maidenhair fern (Adiantum genus). This name captures the delicate beauty of the ginkgo’s foliage, which is unlike that of any other tree.