Icho / Maidenhair / Fossil Trees

Pot Grown Ginkgo biloba Saplings: Male Only Clones 

The Ginkgo biloba tree (Maidenhair) is a slow growing, odd looking tree with branches that are covered in small, lobed leaves. They prefer well drained, acidic soil and are suitable for inner city planting.

The leaves emerge from very short stalks all along the branches, are usually bi-lobed, a bit like moth wings. The leaves turn a charming range of warm yellows and golds in Autumn. Female trees carry clusters of pale green, spherical seeds that make an unpleasant mess, which is why these male clones are by far the most popular. 

Ginkgo biloba can reach a height of about 40 metres with a trunk ten metres in diameter if they are grown in an open space, but that will take a few hundred years.

Browse our variety of large trees for your garden, or our full range of trees.

• Male clones (no messy fruit)
• World's oldest tree.
• Technically native everywhere on Earth
• Prefers acidic soil.
• Suitable for city planting.
• Slow growing.
• Max Height 40m
• Year round delivery.

Did You Know? 

Frequently misspelled Gingko, these unique trees are the sole survivors of the Ginkgo family, which is the oldest extant tree species on earth, going back at least 270 million years. They were previously classified as Salisburia adiantifolia, and are affectionately known as the Fossil Tree; their Japanese name is Icho.

Despite its leaf shape, ginkgo is a conifer, although you would never guess.
These trees are extremely hardy. They resist disease and insect attack, are happy on polluted roadsides, survived at least two ice ages, and withstood whatever firestorms the Allies inflicted on Japanese civilian centres in World War Two; there are a number of large Ginkgo trees less than a mile from the Hiroshima epicentre to prove it.

Notes on planting Ginkgo biloba trees:
Plant Ginkgos with a tall stake and secure them well as the young trees can slump without some support. The best time to plant between November and March.
Ginkgo trees like good drainage and prefer acidic soils.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the site where you plant a tree several months in advance. Kill the weeds first: for tough weeds like nettles, brambles and ground elder, you will usually need a weed-killer to get rid of them. When you dig the soil over, remove stones and other rubbish and mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades.

Watch our video on how to plant a tree for full instructions.
Remember to water establishing trees during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Tree Planting accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass.
You can buy a tree planting pack with a wooden stake & rubber tie to support the tree and a mulch mat with pegs to protect the soil around the base of your tree from weeds and drying out.
We suggest that you use mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of all newly planted large trees: if your soil quality is poor, we strongly recommend it.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser.

After you plant a tree, the most important thing to do is water it in dry weather. You will also need to weed around the plants. Watering should be thorough, so the ground is soaked. Let the soil almost dry out before watering again.
Ginkgo trees will need watering during dry periods for up to 5 years after planting, as they are slow to establish. Without this support they will grow slowly and can die. Mulching every year helps preserve moisture protects young roots from frost.

Avoid pruning your trees if at all possible, especially mature ones, as scars take decades to heal.
If your trees do need pruning, it is ideal to do this in winter. Always hire a tree surgeon to remove large branches.

Special notes on caring for Ginkgo biloba trees:
Ginkgo biloba is a very tough tree that shouldn't need special attention once it has established.
Remember to check the stake and tie supporting your trees a few times a year. Tighten the tie if it becomes loose and loosen it as the tree grows. Make sure that the tree's trunk isn't rubbing against the stake.

Hygiene & Diseases:
Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned off as soon as it appears.
Disinfect your pruning tools between every cut if there is any sign of disease.
Burn or dispose of any diseased material, do not compost it.