"The Oldest Living Tree On Earth "

The Maidenhair Tree

This is a case where the plant's scientific name agrees with everyday common usage. The scientific name for these plants, ginkgo biloba (or, simply, ginkgo) is more commonly used than the common name, "Maidenhair" trees. The alternate spelling, "Gingko" is more in line with how people pronounce the name of the tree.

Ginkgo biloba is a broadleaf, deciduous tree. The plants are also classified as conifers and are considered dioecious, meaning that some are male, while others are female.

Typically, the importance of knowing that a species has distinct male and female members is when achieving pollination is important, but that is not the case with maidenhair trees (read further to learn why gender matters here).

Plant characteristics

Ginkgo biloba trees (that is, the species plants, as opposed to the cultivars) reach 50-80 feet or more in height, with a spread of about 30-40 feet. They grow at an average rate: about 1-2 feet per year. But form, height, width, lifespan, and growth rate are all dependent on the cultivar you choose to grow (see below). The bark on older specimens becomes deeply furrowed.

The uniquely fan-shaped leaves start out green but change to a golden-yellow fall foliage. Before the whole leaf turns golden, there is sometimes a stage during which the leaf is two-toned, with separate bands of gold and green. The common name, "Maidenhair" was inspired by the fan shape of the leaves, which reminds people of maidenhair fern (adiantum spp.).

Since the leaves are small (3 inches across), they do not make as much of a mess when they drop as do the leaves of, for example, oak trees.

Males have pollen-bearing structures for reproduction that are similar to catkins. Females produce balls, each of which contains a seed; they are covered by a soft, yellow exterior.

Despite their fleshiness, these balls are not technically considered fruits, although people refer to them as such in everyday speech.

Growing conditions, uses, and care

While you should plant these trees in full sun to partial shade, they are not fussy about their soil, as long as you grow them in a well-drained loam, kept evenly moist.

Native to china, ginkgo biloba trees, broadly speaking, will grow well in planting zones 4-9. They are famous for their use in medicine (see below).

Ginkgo biloba trees are attractive enough to be used as specimen plants in your landscaping, particularly because of their golden fall foliage color. They are more tolerant of compacted soil than are many trees. They are also disease-resistant and tolerate urban pollution. All of these qualities, along with their small leaves, make them good choices for planting along city streets, where they can grow into tall shade trees. At the other end of the spectrum, they are also used for japanese bonsai.

Many types start out narrow while young but then become quite wide as they age. You can slow down this process a little by pruning them while young so as to force them to produce a single leader. But a much better solution is to select a cultivar known to have a narrow shape (see below).

Whether for city streets or for people's yards, the male trees are preferred, because they are fruitless. Female trees bear a fruit-like product that not only emits a foul odor but is also slippery when it drops down on sidewalks or driveways. Cleaning up after female ginkgo biloba trees is a high maintenance task. The problematic "Fruit" is about the size of a cherry tomato. Fortunately, all-male cultivars have been created through grafting. Buying one of these cultivars gives you a way to experience the beauty of the tree while avoiding the mess.