Name: Ginkgo biloba aka ginkgo tree

Type of Plant: Ginkgos are ancient trees that are native to east Asia. There are many cultivars that range from small dwarfs to 50’ trees.

Why I Love This Plant: I love the shape of the Ginkgo leaves, and appreciate that this plant is hardy over most of the USA, from Zone 3 – 8. I love that it’s adaptable and will grow in full sun to part shade. But most of all, I love this tree in the fall. No matter what variety of Ginkgo biloba you have, you’ll see great fall color and I hope that you appreciate how the tree dumps all of its leaves almost overnight. When Ginkgo leaves the Fall Ball, she sheds her party dress, flinging it to the ground.  

A Word to the Wise: If you are buying a Ginkgo for your yard, you’ll most likely want to look for a male. The females make fruit, and when it’s ripe it has an order similar to animal poop. Fortunately, many male cultivars are available so you can have the classy style of the tree without the malodorous fragrance.

When I was in Stevens Point, Wisconsin recently, I walked through a neighborhood were many people had planted Ginkgo trees in their front yards. I was there just after those trees dropped their party attire to the ground.

This is how my dwarf Ginkgo looks today. I don’t know which variety this one is, but I can tell you that it’s been about 2 feet tall for the ten years that I’ve had it in my garden. It is growing a bit wider over time, but if you need a dwarf tree to add to a rock garden, conifer planting or a short shrub border, this would be a good choice.