Ginkgo biloba Seeds | Ginkgo
LATIN NAME: Ginkgo biloba
COMMON NAME: Ginkgo
Plant Profile
Ginkgo biloba — Ginkgo — is a species with genuine garden merit. Among oldest living trees on planet, ginkgo holds a lineage that reaches back to age of dinosaurs, its fan-shaped leaves unfolding fresh and green each spring and turning a clear, buttery gold before they fall. It steadily establishes a rounded crown, eventually 5-10 metres tall. Cold winters is within its range, and deep, well-drained soils gives the best results. When it flowers, local bees and other insects make good use of it. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Almost everything known clinically about ginkgo comes from one standardised extract, EGb 761: a 35–67:1 acetone extract adjusted to 22–27 per cent flavone glycosides and 5.4–6.6 per cent terpene lactones (ginkgolides A, B, C plus bilobalide), with allergenic ginkgolic acids held below 5 ppm. The results are honest but modest — two large prevention trials, GEM (3,069 participants) and GuidAge, found no protection against dementia, while meta-analyses show a small benefit in people who already have mild cognitive impairment. Ginkgolide B was the first natural platelet-activating-factor antagonist identified, which explains both the microcirculation rationale and the real bleeding interaction with anticoagulants. The raw seeds contain the neurotoxin ginkgotoxin and should never be eaten unprocessed.
As part of the Ginkgo group, Ginkgo biloba contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. It is called a living fossil because its leaves and form have barely changed for over 200 million years, and researchers study it to understand how ancient seed plants lived and evolved. It is the kind of species that plant scientists reach for when they need reliable material for propagation and selection studies.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Ginkgo for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, ginkgo is a survivor and a benefactor. Give it full sun and deep, fertile ground. Seeds, known as ginkgo nuts, are a prized food in East Asia, eaten in soups and festive dishes, and leaf extracts are a major global market in supplements and medicine. Beyond the establishment year, its needs are simple and few.
Ginkgo is a living fossil and a pharmacy cornerstone: standardized leaf extract EGb 761 is among the most prescribed herbal medicines in Europe for memory and circulation support, with decades of clinical research. The roasted nuts are an East Asian delicacy, always eaten cooked and in moderation.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Ginkgo under ordinary good conditions. Growing a ginkgo from seed is a project for someone who likes trees with a long story. Then sow kernels in pots of gritty compost, an inch deep, and keep them warm and moist. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. A spell of cool, moist conditions ahead of sowing brings the seed along nicely and supports even germination. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Ginkgo is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Minor errors in timing or watering rarely cost the grower the crop.
Related Reading
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