Truly a living fossil is the ginkgo or maidenhair tree; tracing its history is interesting research.
Fossil Ginkgo leaves, and twigs are found in American rocks, proving that the importation of the ginkgo tree was not its first visit to this country but rather a return engagement.
Grown as sacred plants since ancient times in the temples in China, where some are believed to be 1000 years old, it is reported by botanists as native to Western China.
It, however, is not positively known to have been found in a truly wild state. There are five unusual trees in Winston-Salem, N.C., the youngest being a little over a quarter of a century old.
The ginkgo leaves are unlike any tree I had ever seen, two to four inches broad and nearly as long, making an interesting fan shape. The texture is leathery, with veining resembling the maidenhair fern.
Some botanists have called ginkgo the missing link between the flowering plants and ferns. It is listed with the conifers but has affinities with ferns or pteridophytes.
History and Distribution of Ginkgo Trees
Ginkgo was introduced into Japan from China, England from Japan, and then into America from England. I learned that the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo Biloba) is perhaps the oldest in the world and that the form has not changed despite its millions of years of history.
Ginkgos are grown in the United States as far north as the Great Lakes, with many planted in the public parks in New York and elsewhere.
They are used as street trees in Washington. One avenue of ginkgos approaches the Department of Agriculture in Washington.
These trees can stand city smoke and dust better than others and have almost complete freedom from fungus disease and insect pests. Several landscape architects have told me they consider them the finest shade trees.
Characteristics of Ginkgo Trees
The ginkgo tree is narrow and tapering when young, very trim and pretty, but as it grows older, it widens to a broad pyramid. It is hardy, withstanding winds, even though the wood is somewhat soft.
After the ginkgo attains an age of 30 or 40 years, the females bear fruit, which appears to be a soft plum and has an unpleasant odor.
However, what is one man’s headache is another man’s joy, for the Chinese consider the pits of the ginkgo fruit a delicacy, and after cleaning off the pulp, roast the seeds as we roast almonds.
The Chinese use them as a confection or appetizer at dinners and banquets. When cleaned, the seeds resemble corn.
In fall, before the leaves fall, the foliage turns soft yellow, which many consider as lovely as its summer green.
Growing Ginkgo Trees From Seed and Cuttings
Ginkgo grows readily from seed stratified or planted directly in the seedbed with wire covering to keep out rodents who relish them.
Plant 1 ½” inches deep in light, humus soil. When 4″ to 6″ inches in height, the seedlings should be reset 18” inches apart.
To be assured that only male trees are produced, it is more often grown from cuttings or layers.
It has been produced by grafting or budding, but this has largely been abandoned for cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings root readily.
44659 by Alcine Neely