UA Fort Smith 75th Anniversary Tree
September 13, 2003

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The Ginkgo is thought to be the oldest living seed plant in the world. Once thought to be extinct, it is known as the "living fossil." It has a strong resistance to insects and smog. The Ginkgo fruit is commonly used in Japanese and Chinese medicine and cuisine. Many folks avoid planting the female tree in the landscape due to its malodorous fruit. Considered a focal point tree, the Ginkgo is widely used for harsh landscape sites because of its extreme urban tolerance. Autumn Gold is a fruitless male selection with showy yellow fall color.

Bark: The bark is light brown to brownish-gray, deeply furrowed and highly ridged. The branches are smooth, tan, and somewhat reflective in winter.

Foliage: The leaves are fan-shaped, divided into two parts, and grow on a long slender stalk. There is also a slit in the middle of the upper leaf blade. The color is bright green in the summer and changes to an excellent yellow color in the fall. Fall color initiates in early November through mid-December in zones 7-8.

Flowers: The flowers are dioecious. The 1 inch long, green male flowers are catkins and emerge from March-April. The 1 1/2 - 2 inch female flowers are on a long pedicel, and bear 1-2 greenish ovules, which turn into seeds after fertilization.

Fruit: The fruit is a tan-orange oval-shaped naked seed. Only the female of the species produces fruit, though not until about twenty years of age. The male of the species is more commonly planted due to the foul odor of the fruit when it is decomposing.

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More Information

Tree ID Number:	698
Scientific Name:	Ginkgo biloba 'AutumnGold'
Mature Height:	50 - 80ft
Canopy Spread (Diameter):	30 - 40ft
Branching Shape:	Pyramidal when young and becoming wide spreading with age.
Growth Rate:	Slow to medium
Wood Strength:	Hard
Cold Hardiness Zone:	4-8
Soil Moisture Requirements:	Moist, Dry
Light Requirements:	Sun
Common Pests:	Extremely free of pests and diseases although several leaf spots can occur.
Comments:	Landscaping, bonsai and medicinal uses. Ginkgos do not "fruit" until they are 20-50 years old.

Find this tree on the Campus Map

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Read an Interview with Mr. Stubblefield about Ginkgo