Ginkgo Biloba Tree

      The Ginkgo Biloba tree is a large tree that averages around 80 feet tall and 60 feet wide at maturity.  It has a medium growth rate.  The Ginkgo Biloba tree needs full to partial sun.  It lives in conditions with moist, sandy, and deep soils, but is capable of surviving in poor soil, heat, drought, and even in air pollution.  It is typically free of disease and pest problems. 

     The leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba are medium green and fan-shaped.  They are typically around 3 inches long and has a petiole of around 3 inches long.  The leaf blade often has a slit in the top center, and rarely there are two slits.  The veins of the leaves are slightly raised.  In the fall, the color of the leaves is usually chartreuse, but is also golden-yellow.

     Female trees yield tan-orange oval fruits that are often in great abundance, creating an overflow of fruit on the ground in September and October.  The fruit is inedible.  Males are better choices for landscaping trees.

     The twigs are characterized by being stout, yet with many short twigs sprouting along older stems and branches.  The stems are gray, tan, or light brown.  The trunk is light brown to brownish gray.  The bark tends to have ridges as it matures.  As the tree matures, its single trunk gives way to several vertical trunks.  This trunk can get up to at least three feet as it matures. 

     At youth, the ginkgo-biloba tree may be sparse and somewhat gawky looking, but with age it becomes a very tall, strong, beautiful tree.  It provides shade in urban areas for many years.  In fact, the Ginkgo Biloba tree has been known for living for 1,000 years!  It has beautiful leaves that will blow in the slightest breeze.  It also has a beautiful yellow color in the fall.

     The Ginkgo Biloba tree is known for producing an herbal supplement called GBE which is produced from dried green leaves.  There are two herbs produced:  flavanoids, and terpenoids.  Flavanoids have antioxidant effects, protect the heart muscle, nerves, retina, and blood vessels.  Terpenoids improve blood flow.

     Ginkgo has been recommended for Alzheimer's Disease since it improves the flow of blood to the brain and antioxidants which may improve the brain's thinking and memory.  Second, it is recommended for eye problems.  In fact, it may halt or lessen retinal problems.  It may help preserve vision for people with age-related macular degeneration, which is the number one cause of blindness.  Third, ginko is recommended for memory impairment (it is not necessary to have Alzheimer's).  Ginkgo helps enhance memory and cognitive function.  Ginkgo is found in many food, drink,  and vitamin supplements.  Fourth, it is known for helping people with intermittent claudication, a condition in which people have difficulty walking due to inadequate blood flow to the legs.  Ginkgo can assist them with the ability to walk without pain.  GBE is considered safe, with few side effects that rarely occur, but which include headaches, skin reactions, dizziness, and gastrointestinal upset.  Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take ginkgo, as well as people who will have surgery in the next 36 hours. 

     As you can see, the Ginkgo Biloba tree has a number of benefits.  It provides shade and beauty for up to 1.000 years.  It also has herbal benefits that will help people with memory, poor blood flow, and retinal problems.