Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the world's oldest surviving tree species, often called a "living fossil" because it has remained largely unchanged for more than 200 million years. Known male selections are highly valued for their spectacular clear golden-yellow autumn foliage while avoiding the fleshy, strong-smelling seeds produced by female trees. Slow-growing when young but ultimately becoming a magnificent long-lived shade tree, ginkgo is exceptionally hardy and tolerant of urban conditions, making it an outstanding specimen for gardens, parks and avenues.
When it matures into a very old tree, it can form pendulous gnarly aerial roots that hang from the trunk towards the ground. There is a magnificent example in the Geelong Botanic Gardens in Victoria.
Need help? Visit our care & planting instructions and autumn foliage guide for practical advice.
- Flowers: Small, inconspicuous yellow-green catkins; lightly scented or scentless; spring (September–October)
- Size: About 15–25 m × 8–12 m (depending on cultivar and growing conditions)
- Uses: Feature tree, avenue planting, parks, large gardens, autumn colour, urban landscapes
- Attributes: Extremely long-lived; hardy; tolerant of frost, drought once established, heat, air pollution and many pests and diseases; slow to moderate growth
- Features: Distinctive fan-shaped leaves turning brilliant golden yellow in autumn; attractive grey fissured bark with age; male trees do not produce seeds
- Also known as: Maidenhair Tree; Fossil Tree; Living Fossil; often misspelt Gingko
Keep your collection labelled. Add a durable engraved plant label to your order, and order extra labels for existing plants so every tree in your collection stays correctly named.
References incl:
Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants (6th ed.). Stipes Publishing.
Royal Horticultural Society (accessed 10/7/2026). Ginkgo biloba.
Trees and Shrubs Online (accessed 10/7/2026).
- Height:
- Large
