Ginkgo Biloba 'Piedmont Pillar'

Piedmont Pillar Ginkgo / Columnar Maidenhair Tree

Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba ‘Piedmont Pillar’
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Origin: China (species); narrow upright cultivar selection
Plant Type: Deciduous narrow-columnar tree

Overview

A beautifully upright, space-saving ginkgo tailored for streets and small SA gardens. Forms a tight column of fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant butter-gold in late autumn. Exceptionally tough in heat, wind and urban conditions, with clean, male (non-fruiting) flowers—so no messy, smelly fruit. Ideal for the Adelaide Plains and frost-sheltered Hills sites with good drainage.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 8–12 m H × 2.5–4 m W (slender, columnar crown)
• Growth Rate: 20–35 cm/year in SA (slow as a juvenile, steady once established)
• Foliage: Classic fan-shaped leaves, mid-green; spectacular butter-gold in late autumn
• Flowers: Inconspicuous male catkins in spring; non-fruiting selection
  
• Seasonal Interest: Fresh spring flush; cool, clean summer green; iconic golden autumn; architectural winter silhouette
• Wildlife Value: Light, dappled shade and perches for small birds; resilient urban canopy
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; heat- & wind-tolerant; handles urban pollution and alkaline/calcareous soils; light–moderate frost hardy; clay loam OK if well-drained; second-line coastal (avoid front-line salt & waterlogging)
• Planting Density: Avenue/screen: 3–4 m apart; Specimen: 3–5 m from buildings & other canopy trees
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; any plant ingestion may upset pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (best autumn colour in full sun)
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam or clay loam; tolerates acidic–alkaline (incl. Adelaide’s calcareous soils); avoid boggy sites
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 3–4 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal in winter (dormant)
• Maintenance: Formative prune in winter to keep a single leader and remove crossing shoots; don’t top. Mulch annually; light, balanced feed in spring if growth is slow; stake for the first 1–2 years in windy sites
• Lifespan: 50–100+ years (very long-lived in suitable conditions)
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA—excellent on Adelaide Plains; in the Hills, choose a sunny, frost-sheltered & well-drained position
• Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Narrow street verges/driveways where width is limited
• Formal avenues or vertical accents in modern gardens
• Courtyard feature tree with small footprint
• Autumn-colour compositions with grasses and grey Mediterranean shrubs

Why You Will Love It

A slim, low-maintenance ginkgo that fits tight spaces, shrugs off Adelaide heat and urban soils, and lights up the garden with spectacular gold foliage each autumn—without the fruit mess.