Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Netherlands

Common name: Japanse notenboom, Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree, Arbre au quarante écus, Abricotier d'argent, イチョウ ichô, 银杏 yin xing

Family: Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo)

Distribution: China

Hardiness: Zone 04

Life form: Gymnosperm

Comments: The largest ginkgo specimen in our garden was planted in 1785. It was introduced to Europe in 1770 from China and Japan, where it was planted at temples. Apparently it can still be found in the wild in a few places in the mountains of East China. Ginkgo biloba can grow 30-40 metres tall and up to 9 metres in diameter. The trunk of old trees is deeply fissured and grey, the twigs are grey-brown. The leaves colour golden-yellow in autumn, after which they fall off. They are fan-shaped, usually with two lobes at the top – hence the species name biloba. Most ginkgoes are either male or female. Our tree flowers profusely at the end of April with striking male catkins. On one branch, small, bright yellow “fruits” resembling plums also appear each year, which are actually seeds in a covering. In 1935, twigs of a female specimen in the garden of “Huis ten Donck” in Slikkerveer were grafted onto this tree. One of these grafts was successful and kept growing, which is why seeds can now be seen on the ginkgo in our garden.

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