Gingko
L.A. JacksonI do like old trees. Not only can they be — using the well-worn adjective— stately, but they are also time-tested tough, and that is what impresses me the most. However, one old tree that especially has my admiration is not a single specimen but rather a single species.
To make sense of my “single” gibberish, let me introduce you to the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba). Not paying any attention to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, straight species ginkgo trees have remained essentially unchanged for over 200 million years. And going back that far means they were not only around when dinosaurs romped across the planet but survived the cataclysmic asteroid collision 66 million years ago that wiped out the big beasts. In more modern times, six ginkgo trees near the World War II atomic bomb blast center in Hiroshima survived — and are alive today.
That’s time-tested tough.
Ginkgo trees are unique beauties as well, with strange fan-shaped leaves that look more like they should belong in an “Avatar” movie than your backyard. In autumn, this distinctive foliage color-shifts to a handsome buttery yellow, creating plenty of Kodak moments.
So, are you ready to add one of these oddities to your landscape? Keep in mind that species ginkgo trees, although they have a slow growth rate of about 1 to 2 feet a year, can still stretch over 60 feet tall with a 35-foot-plus spread, so if you have room, great, otherwise think small.
LA’s Website of the month
With Christmas shopping beginning to pick up now, many savvy online shoppers turn to Etsy for unique crafty gifts, but it is also a good e-source for plants that can range from the unusual to the exceptional.
Dwarf ginkgo cultivars aren’t hard to find, and they can be tucked away in landscapes with limited space or even large containers. Need examples? Check out ‘Spring Grove’ (6 to 8 feet tall), the popular ‘Troll’ (4 feet tall), or the petite ‘Mariken’ (2 to 3 feet tall).
If you would prefer more visual gratification, variegated ginkgo cultivars can oblige, including ‘Snow Cloud’ with light green leaves fading to white along their edges or ‘California Sunset’ sporting elongated leaves streaked in a creamy yellow.
There are many more ginkgo cultivars, so checking with your friendly local garden shop might yield pleasant results. If you want a particular ginkgo, e-shopping is the way to go with regional online nurseries such as Wilson Brothers and Mr. Maple being good places to start.
Garden To-Do’s for November
Since now is a prime time to plant woody ornamentals, roll up your sleeves and add a ginkgo to your landscape! For the best results, select a site that is in full sun and has good drainage — soggy soils are a no-no. Ginkgos are quite deer-proof, and, once established, drought-resistant, too. They are also well-suited for urban environments and are moderately salt-tolerant.
Ginkgos are dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. Most new cultivars are males because female ginkgos can produce nuts that, while edible when fully cooked, have fleshy coverings, which can stink to high heaven if left to decay on the ground under the trees.
- If culinary helpers such as basil, rosemary, chives, dill, thyme and oregano are still growing strong in the garden, now is a good time to make bottles of herb vinegar, which, by the way, can be great gifts for those gardeners on your Christmas list.
- Have squirrels been digging in your newly planted, spring-blooming bulb beds? Spread chicken wire over the growing grounds to curb their burrowing activities, and then, for cosmetic purposes, add a covering of mulch.
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