Ginkgo biloba | Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

A mature common ginkgo stands tall between the EH Butler Library and Bacon Hall.

Tiers of common ginkgo leaves create a stunning pattern of green hues.

A closeup of common ginkgo leaves and a developing ginkgo seed. The seed will develop into an edible nut surrounded by a thick, fleshy coating that is often described as smelling like gym socks or vomit.

Scientific name: Ginkgo biloba

Common name: Ginkgo, Common Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree

Native: No

Native range: Native to China, but is commonly planted in North America and Europe [2].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for G. biloba.

USDA Zones: 3-8A [1]

Maximum age: Ginkgo biloba is extremely long-lived. In its native range, individuals often live to 1000 years, but may survive up to 3000 years [3,4].

Ecology: Wildlife prefer native trees over the non-native common ginkgo; it hosts just 5 species of North American caterpillars [6].

Ethnobotany: In China, the seeds are a common food [2]. They are delicious but require careful processing, as the fleshy coating can cause dermatitis [2,5].