Why do people prefer male trees?

Female trees produce fruit that has a very unpleasant, rancid odor when it falls and decays.

How fast do they grow?

They are slow to moderate growers, often taking many years to reach maturity.

Plant guide

Ginkgo.

Ginkgo biloba L.

Pronounced GINK-oh by-LOH-buh

Also known as Common Ginkgo, Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree, Maidenhair-tree, gingko

The ginkgo is a truly ancient tree species that has survived for millions of years. It is famous for its unique fan shaped leaves that turn a brilliant gold in autumn. You will find it is a very hardy and resilient addition to a landscape.

Another photo of Ginkgo — Photo by Douglas Goldman (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 50 to 80 feet
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Mid spring

Care

Plant your tree in a spot with plenty of room for its roots to spread. Keep an eye on soil moisture during the first few years while it gets established. It is quite tolerant of urban pollution and poor soil conditions.

Watering: Water deeply once a week during dry spells while the tree is young.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring before new growth starts.
Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches during the dormant winter season.
Repotting: If grown in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 5.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -30 to 40°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for over 1,000 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The seeds are toxic if consumed in large quantities and the fruit pulp is a skin irritant.
Pets: The seeds and leaves can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep children away from the fallen fruit as the pulp is a skin irritant and the seeds are poisonous if eaten.
Contact allergens: The fruit pulp contains urushiol, which can cause skin rashes similar to poison ivy.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally considered to have low allergenicity compared to many other trees.
Edibility: The fleshy outer coating of the fruit contains ginkgolic acid, which can cause severe contact dermatitis and is toxic if ingested.

How to identify it

Distinctive fan shaped leaves
Leaves have parallel veins
Yellow autumn foliage color
Spur shoots on branches

Height: 15 to 35m
Spread: 8 to 15m
Leaves: green, yellow, deciduous
Flowers: green, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: yellow, orange, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Leaf SpotCommon
ChlorosisUncommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Root RotUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Young trees benefit from a layer of mulch around the base to protect roots from extreme temperature fluctuations. No special protection is needed for established trees.
In containers: Young trees can be grown in large containers for many years, but they eventually require planting in the ground.

Seed

Clean the fleshy pulp from the seed wearing gloves.
Scarify the hard outer shell lightly.
Sow in a cold frame during autumn for spring germination.

Plant shade-tolerant perennials beneath the canopy to take advantage of the filtered light.

Grows well with

Hosta — They thrive in the dappled shade provided by the mature canopy.
Japanese Maple — They share similar soil requirements and provide beautiful contrasting foliage.

Similar species

Dawn Redwood — Another ancient deciduous conifer that offers a similar prehistoric aesthetic.

Science

Family: Ginkgoaceae
Genus: Ginkgo
Order: Ginkgoales
Class: Ginkgoopsida
Native range: Restricted to small areas in eastern China.
Conservation: The species is listed as endangered in its native range in China.

It survives in the wild by being highly adaptable to various soil types and resistant to most modern pests and diseases.

Value to wildlife: ancient evolutionary lineage, urban resilience
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental shade tree, urban street planting, traditional herbal medicine

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9
Soil reaction: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why do people prefer male trees?: Female trees produce fruit that has a very unpleasant, rancid odor when it falls and decays.
How fast do they grow?: They are slow to moderate growers, often taking many years to reach maturity.

Where the name comes from

The name Ginkgo is a corruption of the Japanese word for silver apricot, while biloba refers to the two-lobed shape of the leaves.

Good to know

Ginkgo trees are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees.
The leaves turn a brilliant, uniform gold color all at once in autumn.
They are incredibly resistant to pollution and pests, making them perfect for city streets.
The name comes from a misreading of the Japanese word ginkyo, meaning silver apricot.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.