Gingko biloba: Unique fan-shaped leaves

As the leaves start to change and fall in autumn, my mind and eye are often drawn to those deciduous trees and shrubs whose leaves are transforming from green to shades of orange, yellow, red, and purple.  One of my favorite trees for fall foliage is the Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, which creates a dazzling display of golden yellow foliage in mid-fall.

Ginkgo are medium to large, long-living deciduous trees.  They are not terribly common in modern landscapes, but can be used as specimen or shade trees.  More commonly, they are used to line streets in urban areas or to create shade in public areas such as parks and other recreational spaces.
A native to Southern China, Ginkgos not only have striking fall color, but the leaves seem to change color all at once

Ginkgo leaves have a unique fan shape

 from green to gold, not nearly as gradually as some other tree species change in fall. Likewise, the leaves all tend to drop off the tree and to the ground more or less at once, rather than periodically over several days and weeks. The effect is quite incredible, both when the leaves are on the tree and when laying below it, particularly if the tree is placed in a landscape where the fallen leaves can be left and appreciated for at least a few days. 

Ginkgo are a unique and interesting tree for a number of reasons, beyond just its fall foliage, which I'll return to in just a moment. For one, it is the only living member of its botanical family, Ginkgoaceae, meaning it has no close relatives. There is evidence that several other genera of Ginkgo existed during the Mesozoic era, however, and of Ginkgo biloba specifically existing in pre-historic times. Perhaps a paleobotanist such as Ellie Sattler of Jurassic Park made this discovery, but because Ginkgo biloba is the lone survivor, it is often referred to as a "living fossil".   Further down the plant-nerd rabbit hole, we go to learn that Ginkgo is a gymnosperm,

The stems also have a fan shape

meaning it produces uncovered seeds. Thus, when one comments on the foul-smelling fruit produced by female ginkgo trees, as I myself have done on occasion, it should be pointed out that these are not true fruit, but rather seeds with a fleshy pulp-like outer layer that emit an unpleasant aroma when ripe. Ginkgo trees also have a uniquely fan-shaped leaf, with a fan-shaped vein pattern to match.

Full height of a mature ginkgo is 50-80 feet tall, though they are slow to medium growing and will thus take quite a while to reach that size. Ginkgos are tolerant of a variety of soil textures and nutrient levels. They need full sun and good drainage to thrive. If you're planting a ginkgo, you'll want to be sure to choose a male tree, due to the aforementioned seeds, unless you want to harvest them. The seeds can be roasted or boiled, and are said to be both tasty and nutritious (I haven't tried them), and in fact an extract from the seeds is included in supplements often found in health food stores, and is touted to have benefits for memory and circulation issues.  

These tall trees, which reach heights up to 80 feet, may be used to create shade in a park or pathway.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension?s Pitt County Center.  If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardeners at [email protected] or 252-902-1705.