# 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. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** City streets and parks - **Also known as:** Ginkgo Biloba, Maidenhair Tree ![Ginkgo](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426317/objects/4865.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Ginkgoopsida - **Order:** Ginkgoales - **Family:** Ginkgoaceae - **Genus:** 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 - **Ancient Resilience:** Ginkgo has an incredible ability to survive, unchanged, for millions of years, earning it the name 'living fossil'. - **Pollution Purifier:** Ginkgo can tolerate high levels of air pollution, which helps it thrive even in busy cities. - **Pest Protector:** Ginkgo has natural defenses that make it highly resistant to most insect pests and diseases, keeping it healthy. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-35 m - **Spread:** 10-20 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 100-400 cm - **Lifespan:** 1000-3000 years - **Fruit Type:** Fleshy seed - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern gray squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — eats the fleshy seeds - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — nests in branches - **Eats:** Turkey Tail fungus (*Trametes versicolor*) — decomposes fallen wood ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ginkgo? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Ginkgo? 20-35 m ### How wide does Ginkgo spread? 10-20 m ### Is Ginkgo edible? Yes ### How big is Ginkgo? 100-400 cm ### How long does Ginkgo live? 1000-3000 years ### Where is Ginkgo usually found? City streets and parks ### What kind of fruit does Ginkgo produce? Fleshy seed ## Where to spot - [Sunset Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunset-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Zoologischer Stadtgarten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologischer-stadtgarten) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Röhrensee Bayreuth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-rohrensee-bayreuth) — Bayern, DE · Zoo - [Roscoe Conkling Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roscoe-conkling-park) — New York, US · Park - [Alsterpark (Hamburg)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alsterpark-hamburg) — Hamburg, DE · Park - [Arboretum Ellerhoop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arboretum-ellerhoop) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park [View all places to see Ginkgo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ginkgo) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Ginkgo: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ginkgo)