Ginkgo biloba

Common Names: Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair Tree, 銀杏 (yín xìng)
Native Origin: East China; in the wild: Guizhou and on the Anhui/Zhejiang border

From wikipedia: “Ginkgo biloba is a unique tree with no close living relatives. The ginkgo is classified in its own division, the Ginkgophyta, comprising the single class Ginkgoopsida, order Ginkgoales, family Ginkgoaceae, genus Ginkgo and is the only extant species within this group. It is one of the best-known examples of a living fossil, because Ginkgoales are not known from the fossil record after the Pliocene.

For centuries it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but is now known to grow in at least two small areas in Zhejiang province in Eastern China, in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve. However, recent studies indicate high genetic uniformity among ginkgo trees from these areas, arguing against a natural origin of these populations. Therefore, it has been suggested that the ginkgo trees in these areas appear to have been planted and preserved by Chinese monks over a period of about 1000 years. Whether native ginkgo populations still exist has not been demonstrated unequivocally and is therefore uncertain.

The relationship of Ginkgo to other plant groups remains uncertain. It has been placed loosely in the divisions Spermatophyta and Pinophyta, but no consensus has been reached. Since Ginkgo seeds are not protected by an ovary wall, it can morphologically be considered a gymnosperm. The apricot-like structures produced by female ginkgo trees are technically not fruits, but are the seeds having a shell that consists of a soft and fleshy section (the sarcotesta), and a hard section (the sclerotesta).”

LEAF STRUCTURE
Fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaf blade. Green in summer and yellowish in the fall.

FLOWERS
Ginkgo biloba’s flowers are dioecious. Blooming period begins from April to May.

FRUITS
The fruit is about 3/4″ to 1-1/2″ in size and tan in color; ripen from October to November.

CARE GUIDE

• very tolerant to full sun and it’s somewhat drought tolerant; requires full sun exposure and can tolerate atmospheric pollution. Do not place under shade as it will not flourish well.
• provide adequate protection from strong winds.
• grows very well in fertile soil mix: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. Note: it is important to ensure good drainage.
• provide adequate water to keep the plant from drying out. However, do not allow the substratum from being excessively soaked with water; but do keep it moist.
• cold hardy: -30°F to -20°F; USDA Hardiness Zone 4.

PLANT FOOD
Feed nutrients every two weeks during its growing season and reduce feeding frequency to once a month during winter.

PRUNING x SHAPING
from Plants For A Future: “The ginkgo is usually slow growing, averaging less than 30cm per year with growth taking place from late May to the end of August. Growth is also unpredictable, in some years trees may not put on any new growth whilst in others there may be 1m of growth.” Hence, prune cautiously.

PROPAGATION
According to Plants For A Future: “seeds are best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in a sheltered outdoor bed. The seed requires stratification according to one report whilst another says that stratification is not required and that the seed can be sown in spring but that it must not have been allowed to dry out. Germination is usually good to fair. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the following spring and consider giving them some protection from winter cold for their first winter outdoors. Softwood cuttings in a frame in spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. The cutting may not grow away in its first year but usually grows all right after that. Cuttings of mature wood, December in a frame.”

PESTS x DISEASES
Generally trouble free.