Do you want to plant a unique tree in your landscape, but are not sure what will survive in your soil.? Try a Ginkgo. Also called the Maiden Hair tree, the species has been around for a while, some 270 million years, so your chances of it surviving in your landscape are pretty good. Yes, that is 270 MILLION. These trees have been around since the dinosaurs! Like the dinosaur, wild Ginkgos are extinct, there are no verified wild Ginkgos in existence, so planting one will help ensure the species itself, doesn't follow suit.
Ginkgos are hardy from USDA zones 3-9, and usually grow from 66-115 feet tall, so be sure to choose a suitable location with no overhead obstructions. It is very adaptable to about any soil type, but grows best in acidic, silty soil with good drainage. The soil should be in the pH range of 5 to 5.5. Ginkgos also tolerate pollution very well, and for this reason, they are commonly used on urban streets as shade trees. Ginkgo is the most common tree used along Manhattan sidewalks as an urban shade tree. They are very resistant to insects and disease, and are very long lived. There are specimens thought to be 2500 to 3000 years old in China. An extreme example of the survivability of the Ginkgo can be seen in Hiroshima, Japan. Four Ginkgos survived the blast from the atom bomb that was dropped in 1945, and still survive to this day!
The leaves of a Ginkgo are large, fan-shaped and turn a bright yellow in the fall, then fall to the ground shortly after. This fan shape makes them very distinguishable from other trees. Another interesting fact about Ginkgos is the fact that there are male and female trees. The seed from a female tree is a delicacy in some countries, but the covering of the seedpod itself has a very malodorous smell, like rancid butter, and some people are sensitive to the chemicals in the outer fleshy coating. If you plan on planting a Ginkgo in your landscape, be absolutely sure you have a male plant if you don't want to deal with the smell or possibility of allergic reactions to the seed pods. A female Ginkgo will not flower for 20 to 35 years, so proper selection at planting may eliminate trouble later on. "Autum Gold" is a grafted cultivar that is a male clone, which will not produce seed pods. Other male cultivars are:
With proper selection and a little forethought, a Ginkgo can be a great addition to your landscape.
Dwayne Haskell owns and operates Mistkits.com where complete misting kits, individual components, and advice can be found. After building his own misting system for his nursery, he realized he could design and build systems for small nurseries or home gardeners who are interested in starting their own plants from cuttings.
He has written an E-book titled Build an Arbor in Just One Weekend, and another on gardening, landscaping and plant propagation tips. He also enjoys teaching others how to grow their own landscape plants and owns and moderates the Mistkits blog, where you can find more articles, polls, and quizzes on landscape and gardening related topics. Be sure to grab your own copy of an E-book when you visit!