Plant Details

Ginkgo biloba

Maidenhair Tree

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Common names

46 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Eendenpootboom
  • Ginkgo[2]
  • Ginko
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Japanse notenboom[2]
French
  • Arbre aux quarante écus[2]
  • Ginkgo[2]
Arabic
  • جنكة بيلوبا[2]
  • جنكو ذو الشقين[2]
  • جنكو ذو الفصين[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • شجرة المعبد[2]
Bulgarian
  • Двуделно гинко[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • jinan dvoulaločný[2]
Danish
  • Tempeltræ[2]
Estonian
  • hõlmikpuu[2]
Finnish
  • neidonhiuspuu[2]
Galician
German
Hungarian
  • kínai páfrányfenyő[2]
  • páfrányfenyő[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • イチョウ[2]
Korean
  • 은행나무[2]
Latvian
  • Divdaivu ginks[2]
Lithuanian
  • Dviskiautis ginkmedis[2]
Polish
  • Miłorząb Dwuklapowy[2]
Portuguese
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Nogueira-do-japão[2]
Russian
  • Гинкго двулопастный[2]
Slovak
  • ginko dvojlaločné[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
  • แปะก๊วย[2]
Turkish
  • mabet ağacı[2]
Ukrainian
  • Ґінкго дволопатеве[2]
Language not specified
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ginkgo biloba L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Ginkgo — VernacularName.tsv, line 175711; taxon 3G3B3.
  • Maidenhair tree — VernacularName.tsv, line 175712; taxon 3G3B3.
[2] Ginkgo biloba — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • ginkgo — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • 銀杏 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Gincgo — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Nogueira-do-japão — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • イチョウ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • 은행나무 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Maidenhair tree — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • jinan dvoulaločný — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Arbre aux quarante écus — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Japanse Notenboom — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginco — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Гинкго двулопастный — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • neidonhiuspuu — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • hõlmikpuu — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • แปะก๊วย — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Miłorząb Dwuklapowy — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • 银杏 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • ginko dvojlaločné — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Dviskiautis ginkmedis — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • mabet ağacı — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Двуделно гинко — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • ginkgo — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Tempeltræ — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • golden fossil tree — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • stinkbomb tree — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Xinkgo — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Guinco — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • جنكة بيلوبا — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • جنكو ذو الشقين — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • جنكو ذو الفصين — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • شجرة المعبد — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Divdaivu ginks — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ґінкго дволопатеве — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • gingko — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • páfrányfenyő — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • kínai páfrányfenyő — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginkgo — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.
  • Ginko — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 64350; Ginkgo biloba.

General information

Scientific name: Ginkgo biloba
Accepted name (Kew): Ginkgo biloba L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Ginkgoaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ginkgo (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Maidenhair Tree
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 15.24–24.38 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 9.14–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Horizontal, Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [1]

Uses

Functions:
Oil, Wood, Carbon farming

Description

Ginkgo biloba is a deciduous tree. Its seeds are used in some traditional foods, but fresh seeds are toxic and poisoning can also occur after cooked or roasted seeds. Cooking does not eliminate all seed toxins. The fleshy seed covering can irritate the skin.

Cooking does not remove all seed toxins.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 30/11

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. US National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Safety; fresh and roasted seeds

    Source checked on .

  3. Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong The Ginkgo – A Living Fossil with Poisonous Seeds; Food Safety Focus 149
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Ginkgo seed poisoning; heat-stable 4-O-methylpyridoxine

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 290897; name ID 334052; Ginkgo L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 290898; name ID 334053; Ginkgo biloba L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ginkgo biloba

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 266015, ID 3G3B3: Ginkgo biloba L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .