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Ginkgo biloba

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© RHS 2002

Characteristics

Plant type

Tree or Conifer

Habit

Columnar/Upright

Resilience

Hardiness

old H4 (hardy)

Colour

Flower

Green in Spring

Foliage

Green in Spring and Summer
Yellow in Autumn

Fruit

Yellow in Autumn

Size

Ultimate height

Higher than 12 metres

Ultimate spread

4-8 metres

Time to ultimate height

20-50 years


Preferred common name

maidenhair tree

Family

Ginkgoaceae


Ginkgo are large deciduous trees, developing an irregular, spreading crown with age, fan-shaped, 2-lobed leaves, and on female trees, unpleasantly scented yellow fruits each containing a single large seed

G. biloba is a deciduous tree to 25m, conical when young, becoming more irregular with age. Leaves to 12cm in width, fan-shaped and often bilobed, turning clear yellow in autumn. Unpleasantly scented dull yellow fruits in autumn on female plants

Other common names

  • fossil tree
  • ginko nut
  • icho
  • maidehair tree

How to grow

Sunlight

  • Full sun

Aspect

  • South-facing, North-facing, West-facing or East-facing
  • Exposed or Sheltered

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerant of atmospheric pollution. Excellent specimen tree

Soil

  • Well-drained
  • Acid, Alkaline or Neutral
  • Chalk, Clay, Sand or Loam

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Low Maintenance or Architectural


How to care

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Generally disease free