Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba L.

     

   

All photographs are copyrighted and are the property of E. Brunner.

Family:  Ginkgoaceae

Native or Introduced to Illinois:  introduced 

Leaf:  Flabellate leaves have the upper margin irregularly toothed, have many veins and are divided by a deep incision which cuts them into two lobes.  The leaves of the Ginkgo are green in the summer turning an attractive yellow in the fall.

Flower:  The Ginkgo has almost unnoticeable flowers that bloom in the spring.  Male and female flowers appear on separate trees.

Fruit:  The fruit of the Gingko is ¾" to 1-½" in size and tan in color. Some complain of the mess and odor and recommend planting only the male of the species.

Bark/Twig:  The bark is reddish in color.  

Size/Form/Shape: This ginkgo reaches a height of 40 m (130 ft).  Males are upright and irregular in shape, females are low and spreading.  

Other:  The Ginkgo tree is a living fossil and the earliest leaf fossils date from 270 million years ago. It was rediscovered in 1691 in China and was brought to this country in the late 1700's. Individual trees may live as long as 3,000 years and the seeds and leaves are used in medicine throughout the world.

A Ginkgo tree may grow very slowly for several years after planting, but then grow at a moderate rate, especially if it receives an adequate supply of water and some fertilizer. The Ginkgo is adapted for use as a street tree, even in confined soil spaces.

National Distribution Map:  

Sources for the Sullivan Middle School Tree Identification Guide were obtained though the use of the following sites:

• Illinois Plant Information Network (ILPIN) @ http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin/ilpin.html#Background
• List of Woody Plants Native or Naturalized in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/woody.html
• Tree Species @ http://ostermiller.org/tree/species.html
• Index to Eastern/Central Trees @ http://www.arborday.org/trees/ECtreelist.html
• ISU Forestry Extension Identification of Common Trees of Iowa @ http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/tree/
• Key to Leaves of Virginia Trees @ http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm
• List of Native Trees for Use Along Roadsides in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/treetable.html
• The PLANTS Database @ http://plants.usda.gov/

The information below is from the National Arbor Day Foundation.  This information can be viewed in the original (source) form by visiting The National Arbor Day Foundation at http://www.arborday.org.

GROWING REQUIREMENTS/RATE
Sun Exposure:  This ginkgo does well in Full sun to partial shade.
Soil Type:  The (Maidenhair Tree) Ginkgo grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, clay, sandy, silty loam, wet, well-drained, wide range of soils. This tree is drought tolerant.
Moisture:  The Gingko tolerates moderate drought and moderate wetness, but does not grow well in hot and dry climates.
Growth Rate:  This tree grows at a medium growth rate.

Hardiness Zones: 3 - 8
The ginkgo can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.