Ginkgo Biloba – Ginkgo Biloba

Plant family: Ginkgoaceae

Plant origin: These ancient plants were once widespread across the planet hundreds or million years ago, but in recent aeons became restricted to parts of China.

Fruit description: The female tree produces a small brown fruit 10-20 mm long, which smells unpleasant, but the nut inside it tastes good. Wear gloves when handling the fruit as it may irritate the skin of some people.

Flowers: There are no flowers only cones (male) or ovules (female).

Growing conditions: The Ginkgo tree grows slowly, up to 20 metres in height. It needs deep, good soil. It likes summer rain or watering, cold Winters and warm Summers. The Ginkgo tree is deciduous, the leaves turning golden in Autumn then falling. The leaves are the same fan shape as those of the maidenhair fern and vary in diameter from 50 to 150 mm. The roots are deep and strong. The tree can live for many hundreds of years. It is a very handsome garden specimen or a beautiful bonsai specimen. It has a spreading low branching shape and provides good Summer shade.

Uses: Ginkgo nuts are traditionally eaten by Chinese and Japanese people in savoury usually vegetarian dishes.

Medicinal uses: An extract from ginkgo leaves can be used to treat dementia. It also assists the memory and concentration but can produce unpleasant side effects.

Pollination requirements: You need a male tree and a female tree to produce nuts.

Harvest time Fruits are harvested in Autumn, leaves are harvested August to May.

Plant relatives

Special features: Ginkgo trees are very resistant to pollution, insect attack and diseases. A tree that outlived the Dinosaurs!

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 140mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 15 metres high by 7 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 140mm