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GINKGO AT A GLANCE

COMMON NAME: Ginkgo, also called maidenhair tree because leaves look like leaflets of maidenhair fern.

SPECIES: Ginkgo (gink'o, Chinese meaning ``white nuts'' or ``silvery fruit'') biloba (by-low'ba, meaning two-lobed). Represents ancient family of sacred trees in China; dates back 150 million years.

FORM: Spike-like pyramid; becomes uniform and graceful looking as it ages.

SIZE: 40-70 feet tall; 20-40 feet wide; grows about 1 foot a year.

EXPOSURE: Sun.

LEAVES: Deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves over winter. Fan-shaped, green 2-3+ inches wide. Turn brilliant yellow-gold in fall.

FLOWERS: Yellow, not outstanding.

FRUIT: Purchase only male or grafted trees to avoid foul-smelling fruit produced by female tree. Nuts contained inside flesh of fruits on female tree considered a delicacy and food for long life by Asian people.

CULTURE: Easy to transplant and establish. Hardy tree does well in almost any soil, including compacted, infertile and dry soils. Withstands road salt, wind, heat and air pollution.

VARIETY: Autumn Gold, characteristic of handsome male gingko with branches at sharp angle and leaves that are not deeply lobed. Female trees have branches that are almost horizontal.

USES: Specimen or street tree for fine foliage. Gives light shade. Attractive and hardy year-round. Christopher Newport University utilizes it in several locations.

PRUNING: None.

PROBLEMS: None.

MEDICINAL VALUE: Ginkgo biloba sold in herbal markets to improve memory and other ailments.

Sources: Landscape Plants of the Southeast, Virginia Cooperative Extension, McDonald Garden Center

Oct. 1998

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