Maidenhair Tree 'Chi Chi', Fossil Tree 'Chi Chi', Icho 'Chi Chi', Maidenhair Tree 'Tit', Fossil Tree 'Tit', Icho 'Tit'
Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’ is a distinctive dwarf cultivar of the ancient and celebrated Ginkgo biloba tree. With its slow-growing, multi-stemmed form and elegant fan-shaped leaves, ‘Chi Chi’ translates the legendary toughness and beauty of ginkgo into a miniature, garden-friendly package.
A Living Fossil for Modern Gardens: Like all ginkgoes, ‘Chi Chi’ is a living witness to 200 million years of botanical history. Bred for density, neatness, and adaptability, this male clone stays compact, forming a dense, mounded shrub with rich green leaves that erupt into uniform gold each fall. Its name, referencing the distinctive “nipples” or spurs on older stems, hints at the quirky character that makes this cultivar a favorite for beds, borders, hedges, and bonsai.
‘Chi Chi’ excels in tough urban environments, showing off resilience against drought, pollution, salt, compacted soils, and deer—a truly modern fossil with virtually no maintenance required.
| Botanical Name | Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’ |
| Common Names | Maidenhair Tree, Chi Chi Ginkgo |
| Plant Type | Deciduous dwarf shrub (male clone) |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–8 |
| Height & Spread | 4–5 ft tall × 4–5 ft wide at 10 years; up to 6 ft tall after decades |
| Leaves & Fall Color | Fan-shaped, smaller than species; lush green, turning rich yellow-gold in autumn |
| Special Features | Fruitless (male), dense, slow-growing, resistant to deer, salt, drought, pollution |
| Main Uses | Accent plant, borders, hedges, massing, bonsai, urban gardens |
Form & Foliage: ‘Chi Chi’ grows as a dense, multi-stemmed mound—no trimming required. Its deeply lobed, fan-shaped leaves emerge green, drawing the eye through summer, then blaze golden yellow in autumn. Mature plants reveal quirky clusters of buds (“nipples”) on older branches.
Winter Structure: Branches and bark become more sculptural with age, and its sturdy framework stands out in the winter garden.
Fruit-Free and Allergy Friendly: Male clone—no fruit, no odor, no fuss.
Ginkgo trees have symbolized resilience, hope, and endurance for centuries. ‘Chi Chi’ brings this legacy into even the smallest garden spaces. The name, with its reference to odd branching nodules, adds a story to share with every visitor.
‘Chi Chi’ is versatile and compact—ideal for:
| Variety | Type | Foliage & Appearance | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Gold | Full-size canopy | Classic upright, gold leaves | Shade, parks, boulevards |
| Troll | Miniature, globe | Dense, rounded, golden fall | Container, rockery, bonsai |
| Chi Chi | Dwarf globe, multi-stemmed | Dense mound, bud spurs, gold fall | Hedge, bonsai, borders |
| Jade Butterflies | Dwarf upright | Clustered small leaves | Patio, bonsai, borders |
| Mariken | Dwarf, globe-shaped | Dense, rounded, yellow fall | Containers, beds, bonsai |
Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’ condenses centuries of endurance into a compact, versatile shrub, with brilliant gold fall color and quirky branching. Ideal for city landscapes, borders, and bonsai projects, it brings resilience, character, and living history to every space.
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
3 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 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 |
| Common names | Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil, Drought, Salt |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
3 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 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 |
| Common names | Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil, Drought, Salt |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage |
How many Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’ (Maidenhair Tree) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’ (Maidenhair Tree) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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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!
