Dreaming of a small, glowing tree that shrugs off city life? Meet ginkgo. From dwarf pots to slim streetwise columns, our top cultivars deliver bold yellow fall, low litter, and graceful form. See which male, compact, or shade-giving selections fit your space—and plant a little autumn sunshine in your garden.
If you’re searching for a tree that practically defines resilience, beauty, and ancient lineage, look no further than Ginkgo biloba. The “maidenhair tree” is a living fossil with a track record stretching back 200 million years!
From city plantings to suburban yards, a well-chosen ginkgo is tough against urban pollution, drought, heat, and neglect. But did you know there are hundreds of cultivars—including dwarfs, columnars, variegated beauties, and even exquisite miniatures for patio pots?
Ginkgoes offer unrivaled autumn gold, distinctive fan-shaped leaves, and a sculptural winter form. They stand up to urban pollution, stormwater, salt, pests, and even compacted soils. Discover Top Pollution-Tolerant Trees That Thrive Where Others Fail.
If you crave a shade tree or something unique for your collection, ginkgo delivers—often thriving where other ornamentals falter.
There’s so much more to ginkgo than the classic, wide-canopied tree. Modern breeding now offers options for every gardener:
Here are the most admired selections—whether you have a tight space, want something bold and vertical, or simply dream of a glowing autumn canopy.
If you want a tree that offers drama, character, and minimal fuss in any home garden, a ginkgo cultivar is an unbeatable choice. Explore columnar, dwarf, variegated, or classic shade trees for your space—whatever your size or style, Ginkgo biloba always delivers a golden autumn and a story as old as the dinosaurs.
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
3 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A3 |
| Plant Type | Conifers, Trees |
| Plant Family | Ginkgoaceae |
| Genus | Ginkgo |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Salt |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
3 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A3 |
| Plant Type | Conifers, Trees |
| Plant Family | Ginkgoaceae |
| Genus | Ginkgo |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Salt |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden |
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Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
