TreeRM

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba 路 Ginkgoaceae 路 also Maidenhair tree

A living fossil with unmistakable fan-shaped leaves that turn clear golden yellow and drop almost all at once in autumn. Young trees are gawky and narrow, old ones broad and majestic, and the species seems nearly immune to pests, disease, pollution, salt and compacted soil, which is why it lines streets from New York to Tokyo. Plant only male cultivars ('Autumn Gold', 'Princeton Sentry', 'Magyar', 'Saratoga'): female trees drop foul-smelling, slippery seeds.

Broadleaf, drops leavesMedium growthFull sunModerate water
Ginkgo
EecherplazGinkgo06.jpg: Cayambe derivative work: Ginkgotree (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚚馃嚦 China 路 Native to China.source

Adapted

  • 馃嚚馃嚘 Canada 路 Widely planted in southern Canadian cities as a street tree.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Introduced; widely planted as a street tree across the US, hardy in zones 3 to 9. USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48.source

Recommended

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Portland, OR, United States 路 'Emperor' and 'Presidential Gold' ginkgo are on Portland's list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Seattle, WA, United States 路 'Autumn Gold' ginkgo is offered as a street tree (8 ft+ planting strip) in Seattle's Trees for Neighborhoods 2026 program.source

Care

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil and water through the first two summers; it is drought tolerant afterward. Prune in the dormant season to build a central leader when young. It has no significant pests or diseases; the only common complaint is fruit from female or grafted-onto-female trees. Handling the seed pulp can cause skin irritation.

Benefits

Fall colorShadeDrought tolerantSalt tolerantLong livedStorm resistantFits small spaces

Good for

Street treeYard shadeparksContainer

Watch out for

Messy fruitAllergenic pollenToxic parts