Ginkgo Biloba

Maidenhair Tree / Gingko / Duck Foot / Silver Apricot

Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Origin: China
Plant Type: Deciduous tree

Overview

A living fossil and stunning autumn-colour feature for South Australian gardens. Ginkgo biloba has distinctive fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant butter-yellow in late autumn before falling cleanly. Tough, urban-tolerant and long-lived, it’s superb as a specimen or avenue tree in temperate and Mediterranean SA climates. (Choose male-grafted trees to avoid the messy, strong-smelling fruit of female trees.)

Key Features

• Mature Size: 8–15 m H × 5–10 m W (narrower forms/cultivars stay smaller)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fan-shaped, fresh lime to mid-green leaves; striking architectural branching; brilliant golden autumn colour
• Flowers: Inconspicuous (male pollen cones; no nectar). Female trees may set yellow, plum-like fruit with a strong odour — grown for foliage, not flowers
  
• Seasonal Interest: Cool green summer shade; spectacular golden foliage in late autumn; sculptural winter silhouette
• Wildlife Value: Provides shade/shelter and nesting structure; urban-habitat friendly
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; frost hardy; clay-tolerant
• Planting Density: Avenue/specimen: 1 tree per 16–36 m² (4–6 m apart), depending on mature canopy
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic to cats/dogs; avoid ingestion of raw seeds (can cause tummy upset)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best colour in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam; very urban/alkaline tolerant; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; formative prune in winter to establish a strong frame; minimal feeding once established; select male cultivars for fruit-free streets/paths
• Lifespan: 50–100+ years (very long-lived)
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including inland/urban areas
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline — highly adaptable

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Specimen on lawn or in courtyards for dramatic autumn colour
• Avenue/driveway planting (choose uniform, male selections)
• Pair with grasses and dark mulch to make the gold foliage pop

Why You Will Love It

Iconic fan leaves and jaw-dropping golden autumn colour, combined with heat, frost and urban tolerance. A low-fuss, long-term investment tree that brings seasonal drama and enduring value to SA gardens.