Plants We Love: Ginkgo biloba
A slow-growing, easy-going tree with great fall foliage and a long history.
Plant name: Maidenhair tree, ginkgo tree
Botanical name:Gingko biloba
Virtues: Gorgeous fall color. Interesting framework of branches.
Flower: Green catkins appear in spring. More noticeable on male trees.
Foliage: Two-lobed, fan-shaped leaves are green in spring and summer and bright yellow in fall.
Habit: Upright tree, 50 to 80 feet tall. Branches spread 30 to 40 feet. Shorter, narrow cultivars exist.
Season: Spring through fall.
Origin: China. Ginkgo biloba is the last member of a group of plants that lived 150 million years ago. Named Tree of the Year in 2005 by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
Cultivation: Prefer moist, well-drained soil but tolerates poor soil and moderate moisture, as well as heat and poor air. Full sun. USDA Zones 3–8.
