planting ginkgo biloba seeds Ginkgo Biloba Tree Seeds | Maidenhair Tree

Two hundred and seventy million years old. Still growing in your backyard.

Ginkgo biloba is the oldest surviving tree species on Earth, a true living fossil that predates the dinosaurs. Every other member of its ancient lineage is gone. The Ginkgo endured mass extinctions, ice ages, and shifting continents to arrive in the modern world virtually unchanged. Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves, brilliant yellow fall color, and unmatched resilience make it one of the most remarkable and adaptable trees you can grow.

• The oldest surviving tree species, unchanged for over 200 million years
• Brilliant, pure yellow fall color that drops almost all at once
• Highly resistant to pollution, pests, disease, and urban stress
• Exceptionally long-lived, with some trees over 3,000 years old
• Source of compounds widely studied for cognitive and circulatory support

Things You Probably Didn’t Know

It survived Hiroshima.
Several Ginkgo trees near the atomic blast in 1945 resprouted and are still alive today, becoming global symbols of resilience.

It no longer exists in the wild.
Ginkgo was preserved for centuries in temple gardens by Buddhist monks. Every tree today descends from cultivated specimens.

You won’t know the sex for decades.
Ginkgo trees are male or female, but seedlings can take 20–30 years to reveal their sex. Female trees produce seeds with a strong odor.

It powers a global supplement industry.
Extracts from Ginkgo leaves are among the most widely used herbal supplements for memory and circulation.

Growing Details

• Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba
• Stratification: Required; 60–90 days cold moist stratification
• USDA Zones: 3–9
• Soil: Adaptable; prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soil
• Light: Full sun
• Height: 50–80 feet
• Spread: 30–40 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate (1–2 ft/year)

Plant one and consider the fact that something genetically identical to this tree watched the dinosaurs come and go.