Ginkgo biloba seed

LATIN NAME: GINKGO BILOBA

COMMON NAME: Ginkgo

Among the oldest living trees on the planet, the ginkgo holds a lineage that reaches back to the age of the 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.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The ginkgo carries a remarkable record in the studies of the living fossil plants, and its leaves have held a long place in the laboratory work on the flavonoid compounds and the urban-tree tolerance that lets it thrive where the air is thin and the streets are hot. The research looks at the way the ancient tree keeps its genetic line nearly unchanged, the autumn colour chemistry, and the seed biology of the fleshy, scented fruits.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the old temple courtyards and the modern avenues alike, the ginkgo raises the clean, fan-leafed crown and turns the street golden in the autumn. The leaves have served the herbal traditions of East Asia for centuries, the roasted kernels hold a modest place in the kitchen, and the tree makes the fine shade tree, the street tree and the living link to the deep past. It asks for the sun, the open ground and the years to grow into its own.

To grow the Ginkgo from seed, plant the cleaned nuts in pots of gritty, well-drained compost.

Plant the cleaned nuts in pots of gritty, well-drained compost, and keep the young trees in the open, sheltered spot. The fan-shaped leaves open with the spring.

LATIN NAME: Ginkgo biloba

COMMON NAME: Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo

The ginkgo is the oldest living tree on earth that is still grown for its beauty, and it looks the part. It develops into a low, spreading mat, up to a metre tall. It is a deciduous tree that can live for over a thousand years, and it is so tough that it shrugs off pollution, pests and disease better than almost any tree in the city. Male and female trees are separate; the females carry round, golden-orange fruits with a soft, fleshy coat that has a strong, unpleasant smell when it ripens, but inside lies the smooth, cream-coloured seed kernel, the familiar ginkgo nut of Asian cooking.

The ginkgo belongs to its own ancient family, Ginkgoaceae, and it is the last survivor of a group of trees that flourished alongside the dinosaurs. It is native to China, where wild trees survived in a few mountain refuges, and it has now been planted across the world as one of the finest of all street and park trees.

Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide

Growing a ginkgo from seed is a project for someone who likes trees with a long story. The seeds need a little preparation: clean the fleshy coat off the hard kernels, then give them a cold, moist period of about two to three months, so mix them with damp sand and keep them cool, or sow them in pots and leave them outdoors through winter. Then sow the kernels in pots of gritty compost, an inch deep, and keep them warm and moist. Germination can be slow, with seedlings appearing over several weeks, so be patient. Grow the young trees on in pots for a couple of years before planting out in a sunny, sheltered spot. A ginkgo you have grown from seed is a tree for your grandchildren, and it will stand in the garden for centuries.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The ginkgo is a treasure of both botany and medicine. 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. The leaves contain a group of compounds called ginkgolides and flavonoids, and standardized leaf extracts have been studied extensively for improving blood flow and circulation, making ginkgo one of the most researched herbal medicines in the world. In horticulture, its toughness and its brilliant autumn colour make it a subject of urban-tree research, and it is planted in cities worldwide. From the fossil beds to the pharmacy and the city street, the ginkgo has one of the richest scientific records of any tree.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

Ecologically, the ginkgo is a survivor and a benefactor. Give it full sun and deep, fertile ground.

Its economic value is substantial. The seeds, known as ginkgo nuts, are a prized food in East Asia, eaten in soups and festive dishes, and the leaf extracts are a major global market in supplements and medicine. The wood is pale and fine-grained, used for carving and furniture. For a grower, ginkgo is a long-term crop with steady markets in food and health products, and for a gardener it is one of the most beautiful and enduring trees you can plant.

Uses: Culinary/Medicinal (Maidenhair tree) An extremely hardy tree, resistant to pollution and disease. Very attractive fan-shaped foliage. In the West, the male tree is preferred because the female produces a foul-smelling fruit. However, the fruit contains a delicious nut which is a delicacy in China roasted or added to rice dishes. Medicinally, ginkgo is rapidly gaining a reputation as a brain tonic. According to recent European studies, the leaf extract increases blood supply to the brain and improves neural functioning and memory. Seeds take 3 to 12 months to germinate.