Ginkgo Tree (Maidenhair Tree)
Ginkgo biloba (GINKGOACEAE)
Planting and Growing Ginkgo Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow ginkgo or maidenhair trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of ginkgo trees (maidenhair trees)
- Growing conditions for ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- When to plant ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- How to plant ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- How to prune ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- Landscape uses of ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
- Pest and disease control for ginkgo tree (maidenhair tree)
Growing Ginkgo Trees
Several cultivars of slow-growing, pyramid-shaped to round-crowned, resinous, deciduous trees, rarely to 120 ft. (37 m) tall but usually 30–50 ft. (9–15 m), with fanlike, light green, leathery, fringed leaves, 2–3 in. (50–75 mm) long, turning gold and dropping together in autumn.
Ginkgo Tree Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Inconspicuous flowers on female trees form round, kernel-pitted fruit, to 2 in. (50 mm) wide, with a foul, rancid scent. Choose fruitless male cultivars to avoid fruit cleanup care.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 15–20 ft. (4.5–6 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize annually in spring until established. Prune sparingly in autumn. Propagate by cuttings, grafting, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, containers, groups, paths in Asian, small-space gardens and lawns. Pest and disease resistant. Some cultivars smog susceptible.
Warning:
Fruit of Ginkgo biloba may cause skin or eye irritation in sensitive individuals. Always wear rubber gloves when handling fruit.