Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in full sun. Prefers moist, sandy, well-drained soils. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including both alkaline and acidic soils and compacted soils. Also tolerant of saline conditions, air pollution and heat. Adapts well to most urban environments.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ginkgo biloba is a large, deciduous tree that matures to 100' tall and is considered to be a living fossil. It is the only surviving member of a group of ancient plants believed to have inhabited the earth up to 150 million years ago. It features distinctive two-lobed, somewhat leathery, fan-shaped, rich green leaves with diverging (almost parallel) veins. Leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Ginkgo trees are commonly called maidenhair trees in reference to the resemblance of their fan-shaped leaves to maidenhair fern leaflets (pinnae). Ginkgos are dioecious (separate male and female trees). Nurseries typically sell only male trees because female trees produce seeds encased in fleshy, fruit-like cone which, at maturity in autumn, are messy and emit a noxious, foul odor upon falling to the ground and splitting open.
Genus name is a misrendering of the Japanese gin meaning silver and kyo meaning apricot used in Japan in the 17th century.
Specific epithet means two-lobed in reference to the leaves.
'Praga' originated from a male tree growing in the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. It is believed to be a bonsai specimen that had been grown in a barrel before being planted outdoors and is estimated to be 150 years or more old. This cultivar may also be known as 'Pragensis' but is not considered to be the same as 'Pendula' as its branches are more horizontal that those of 'Pendula'. It is a low, spreading tree with a parasol-shaped crown. It is believed to grow about 20 to 30 ft. tall and wide.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Usually slow growing, with initial growth being somewhat sparse.
Uses
Excellent selection for a variety of uses, including lawn tree, street tree or shade tree. Also effective in city parks or near commercial buildings.