Personal perspective on ginkgoes
If you’ve read me very long you’ve known that I rank ginkgoes as one of my top secondary trees for a home landscape – not as a large shade tree, but as the second or third tree in an average size garden.
They’re slow-growing, but they’re trouble-free and they’re handsome. And then that fall color kicks in. Dazzling golden yellow fall color that outshines any other tree species in Texas. It’s top of my list!
In his fine report here on the species in general last month, Steve Huddleston described their branch structure as looking like “…outstretched arms decorated with tufts of fluttering foliage.” Once those leaves drop for the winter, those arms bring a unique character to this tree for five months of the year.
And there are stories to tell. Ginkgoes might be considered to be a “missing link.” They’re somewhat prehistoric in that they’re cone-bearing plants with deciduous leaves instead of needles. However, if you look more closely, you’ll realize that the leaves somewhat resemble pine needles fused together in a flat plane.
So, they, like magnolias and a few other plants fill that space between the gymnosperms (cone-bearers) and angiosperms (bear their seeds within a fruit). And, if that weren’t enough, ginkgo leaves are found pressed into fossilized rock. These babies aren’t newcomers.
As much as I love my ginkgoes (we now have three), my wife loves Bloodgood Japanese maples in shady locations in our landscape. We now have at least a dozen of them. (I’m a practical man.) The maple alongside the front of our house and the walk down to my Santa barn has been with us the longest. It’s 35 years old and now stands about 25 ft. tall and wide with a 12-in. trunk diameter. We see it as we come down the hill toward our house and anytime we’re out on the courtyard. In November and sometimes into early December the two trees put on quite a show.
Continuing, 15 years ago, I was shopping at one of my sponsoring nurseries. They had a 30-gal. ginkgo that was just calling my name. It was strictly an impulse purchase – something I never suggest. However, I knew I’d be able to find a spot for it, so there it is off our deck where we can enjoy it from our sunroom as we eat every meal. It’s been a treat and a treasure. It’s now 15 or 18 ft. tall and 3 in. in diameter.
Our third tree is up along our county road. It’s much younger – only 4 or 5 years in its spot. It was another impulse purchase. I had another shady spot where I knew we could use a little impact. We have to drag a hose up to it, but it’s worth it.
Ginkgoes should be well suited to all of North and East Texas east of I-35 and north of the Hill Country. It’s certainly worth trying elsewhere.
Not every nursery will stock ginkgoes, and certainly not all of the year. Be sure you’re buying a male, grafted selection. You absolutely do not want a female ginkgo! The fruit (that fleshy cone) has a putrid aroma. You’ll be reaching for the nearest chain saw.
That’s my personal embellishment on Steve’s more horticultural story on this great little tree. If I’ve done my job well, I’ve convinced you to consider it for a special spot in your garden. Maybe you, too, will become its advocate just as I have.