Introduction
This male cultivar of Ginkgo is practically pest-free, resistant to storm damage, and casts dense shade. The tree grows to at least 50 feet tall but the original tree in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia has a spread of only about 15 to 18 feet and resembles a fat, billowy column or oval. The dense crown makes it suitable as a screen or noise buffer. It makes a durable street tree where there is enough overhead vertical space to accommodate the large size. It has good usefulness as a city tree especially where there is narrow overhead space. There are other cultivars with narrow upright crowns including `Princeton Sentry' and `Fastigiata'. Ginkgo tolerates most soil, including compacted, and alkaline. The tree is easily transplanted and has a vivid yellow fall color which is second to none in brilliance, even in the south. However, leaves fall quickly and the fall color show is short. Unlike the species, the tree does not set fruit.
Credit: Ed Gilman
General Information
Scientific name: Ginkgo biloba
Pronunciation: GINK-go bye-LOE-buh
Common name(s): 'Fairmont' Maidenhair Tree, `Fairmont' Ginkgo
Family: Ginkgoaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 5A through 8A (Fig. 2)
Origin: not native to North America
Invasive potential: little invasive potential
Uses: sidewalk cutout (tree pit); street without sidewalk; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; urban tolerant; highway median; specimen; Bonsai; tree lawn 4-6 feet wide
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree
Description
Height: 50 to 75 feet
Spread: 15 to 25 feet
Crown uniformity: symmetrical
Crown shape: upright/erect, oval, columnar
Crown density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: lobed
Leaf shape: fan-shaped
Leaf venation: parallel, palmate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: yellow
Fall characteristic: showy
Flower
Flower color: green
Flower characteristics: not showy
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit covering: no fruit
Fruit color: no fruit
Fruit characteristics: no fruit
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: branches don't droop; showy; typically one trunk; thorns
Pruning requirement: little required
Breakage: resistant
Current year twig color: brown, gray
Current year twig thickness: medium, thick
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Culture
Light requirement: full sun, partial sun or partial shade
Soil tolerances: sand; loam; clay; acidic; alkaline; well-drained; occasionally wet
Drought tolerance: high
Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate
Other
Roots: not a problem
Winter interest: yes
Outstanding tree: yes
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant
Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases
Use and Management
Ginkgo may grow extremely slow for several years after planting, but will then pick up and grow at a moderate rate, particularly if it receives an adequate supply of water and some fertilizer. But do not overwater or plant in a poorly-drained area. Keep turf away from several feet around the trunk to help the tree become established. Very tolerant of urban soils and pollution, Ginkgo could be used more in USDA hardiness zone 7 but is not recommended in central and southern Texas or Oklahoma due to summer heat. Adapted for use as a street tree, even in confined soil spaces. Some early pruning to form one central leader and to eliminate vigorous upright branches may be helpful.
There are several other cultivars: `Autumn Gold' - male, fruitless, bright gold fall color and rapid growth rate; `Fastigiata' - male, fruitless, upright growth; `Laciniata' - leaf margins deeply divided; `Lakeview' - male, fruitless, compact broad conical form; `Mayfield' - male, upright fastigiate (columnar) growth; `Pendula' - pendent branches; `Princeton Sentry' - male, fruitless, fastigiate, narrow conical crown for restricted overhead spaces, popular, 65 feet tall, available in some nurseries; `Santa Cruz' - umbrella-shaped, `Variegata' - variegated leaves.
Propagation is by seed or grafting males.
Pests and Diseases
This tree is pest-free and considered resistant to gypsy moth.
