Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba. Family Ginkgoaceae. Tree.

Also called Maidenhair tree.

Ginkgo is a long-lived deciduous tree grown for its distinctive fan-shaped leaves and clear yellow autumn colour. It becomes a large shade tree, so allow generous space and choose a grafted male tree to avoid the unpleasant-smelling, fleshy seeds produced by females.

Hardiness

USDA zones 3a to 8b

UK hardiness: H6 (hardy, -20 to -15°C)

Grows outdoors in the shaded zones. Select a zone to see what else grows there.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun; tolerates light partial shade, but develops a better crown in sun.
Water: Water regularly while establishing. Established trees tolerate occasional drought, but grow better with deep watering during prolonged dry weather.
Soil: Well-drained soil, including clay, loam and sand; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.
Height: 50-80 ft (15-24 m)
Spread: 30-40 ft (9-12 m)
Foliage: Green, fan-shaped leaves, often notched into two lobes, turn bright yellow in autumn and may fall within a few days.
Growth: Slow to moderate; young trees can take several years to settle in.
Care needed: Low

Care

Plant with the root flare at soil level and leave room for the full-sized crown.
Water deeply during dry spells for the first two or three growing seasons, allowing the soil to drain between waterings.
Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
Feed only if soil testing or weak growth indicates a deficiency; established trees usually need no routine fertiliser.
Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports after the first growing season.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while dormant, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and retaining a strong central leader on young trees. Avoid topping or heavy pruning of mature trees.

Through the year

Late winter: Check young trees for competing leaders and make any necessary light structural pruning.
Spring: Plant container-grown trees once the soil is workable, and water thoroughly.
Late spring: Renew mulch without burying the root flare, and check that ties are not tightening around the trunk.
Summer: Water young trees deeply during dry periods; check soil moisture before watering again.
Autumn: Collect fallen leaves for leaf mould; promptly clear fleshy seeds from paths if you have a female tree.
Late autumn: In mild climates, plant while the soil remains workable; in very cold regions, wait until spring.

In the garden

Use as a specimen in a large lawn, where the branching structure and autumn colour can be seen clearly.
Plant in a spacious urban garden for summer shade and tolerance of air pollution.
Combine with evergreen shrubs to make the yellow autumn foliage stand out.
Use in Japanese-inspired planting with Japanese maples and shade-tolerant groundcover beneath the outer canopy.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Urban city garden, Japanese, Formal, Autumn colour and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Witch hazel, Hosta and Japanese forest grass.

Wildlife: The mature canopy provides shelter and nesting sites for birds. Its wind-pollinated reproductive structures offer little value to nectar-seeking insects.

Problems to watch for

Foul-smelling seed litter from female trees: buy a grafted male tree from a reputable nursery; seedlings cannot be reliably sexed when young.
Root decline in waterlogged soil: choose a freely draining site and correct drainage before planting.
Leaf scorch or early leaf drop during drought: water deeply over the root area and maintain mulch, especially around young trees.
Poor establishment from deep planting or circling roots: expose the root flare at planting and correct circling roots before backfilling.

Safety

Seeds are poisonous to people and dogs; eating them can cause vomiting, seizures and potentially fatal poisoning. Cooking does not reliably make them safe. The fleshy outer seed covering can irritate skin, so wear gloves when clearing it. Toxicity information for cats and horses is limited; keep them away from fallen seeds and do not offer leaves as feed.

Easily confused with

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)
Its small, fan-shaped leaflets resemble ginkgo leaves, but they grow along fine black fern stalks rather than on woody branches; it remains a low-growing fern.

The name

Ginkgo comes from a Japanese name meaning 'silver apricot', referring to the seed, while biloba means 'two-lobed', describing the leaves.

Propagation. Grow from seed after a period of moist chilling, though seedlings vary and their sex may remain unknown for decades. Named male selections are normally propagated by grafting; cuttings are possible but can be slow and unreliable.

Checked against open data

Accepted botanical name: Ginkgo biloba
In the US and Canada: Introduced in the lower 48 states.
Native range: China Southeast.
Measured: Soil pH 5.2 to 7.5. Average height 3000 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.

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