ExploreTree

Ginkgo

The Ginkgo tree is one of the oldest trees in the world! It has unique fan-shaped leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall.

Habitat: City streets and parks

Appearance

The Ginkgo has iconic fan-shaped leaves that are bright green, turning a brilliant golden yellow in autumn. Its bark is typically grayish-brown, deeply furrowed with age. Female trees produce distinctive, foul-smelling, yellowish-orange, plum-like seeds.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassGinkgoopsidaOrderGinkgoalesFamilyGinkgoaceaeGenusGinkgo

Ginkgo

Interesting facts

Amazingly, some Ginkgo trees even survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima!

Every individual Ginkgo tree is either a boy or a girl, never both!

Female Ginkgo trees grow seeds that famously smell like rotten butter!

Its fan-shaped leaves are unlike any other living tree on Earth!

Special abilities

Ginkgo has an incredible ability to survive, unchanged, for millions of years, earning it the name 'living fossil'.

Ginkgo can tolerate high levels of air pollution, which helps it thrive even in busy cities.

Ginkgo has natural defenses that make it highly resistant to most insect pests and diseases, keeping it healthy.

Measurements & details

Height: 20-35 m
Canopy Spread: 10-20 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 100-400 cm
Lifespan: 1000-3000 years
Fruit Type: Fleshy seed
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

eats

Eastern gray squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

eats the fleshy seeds

shelters

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

nests in branches

eats

Turkey Tail fungus

Trametes versicolor

decomposes fallen wood

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Broadleaf Tree

Discover magnificent trees that have wide, flat leaves, unlike the needles of pine trees! These are often the trees that change colors beautifully in autumn.

Medicinal

Discover special plants that people have used for centuries to help them feel better or stay healthy, often found in nature's own medicine cabinet.

Fall Color

Witness the breathtaking transformation as leaves change from green to brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold before they fall. It's a spectacular natural art show!

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!