Of course, we have to acknowledge that ginkgo is a native tree. Though some think of it as Asian, its place in North and South America has been understood since the 1960s. I'm also curious if all these conclusions are based on your inspections or on scientific research about what other living things use ginkgo. I'm all for the diversity you seek, the damn boring nursery industry is ruining out urban forest, but i caution against throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Hi, Jenks, it’s nice to hear from you. My conclusions are based both on observations and on research, and there are links in the story. Urban forests in the US are in steep decline and we need to reverse that trend. One way to do so is to get out of our rigid, uncreative street tree planting. Are you familiar with Miyawaki forests? I think they have great potential.
I”m not familiar with the term but will look it up. I’ve been planting diverse street tree plantings for over 30 years — in horticulture there’s long been a group of people who rail against mono-cultures of domination that landscape architects seem to love. Last week I got to drive through a city street tree and adjacent park planting I got to take over 30 years ago — so nice to feel pride but also to see diversity doing it’s thing — where I remember the firsts proposals from a big l.a. firmer had one single tree. It’s an ongoing fight that takes constant education for clients and city decision makers….
Ginkos do not thrive in central Florida. To hot to long. I would like to see more pond cypress trees used .but a far larger problem is the placing of new trees in far to small homes in islands , narrow strips , next to concrete walls and sidewalks where the soil has been completely reconstructed from site work left overs frequently too wet or too dry with road base materials through out . Then a really good tree that thrives anywhere but gets really large / camphor tree / is non native and virtually unavailable .
Life in landscaping is a challenge in an area of intense development .
One must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Ginkos are not native so they do not feed local wildlife. However because they can tolerate pollution, they draw down more carbon, more photosynthesis, more growth, shade, soil building than stressed trees. Urban people deserve healthy aesthetically pleasing trees, too! Planting ginkos increases the diversity of urban trees. We are all for diversity and not playing favorites.
I remember the ginkgos at Henry Clay's Ashland, and that it was he who introduced them to Lexington. There was one on our block too, when I lived in the Highlands area of Louisville. I don't know how long-lived ginkgos are but hope Kentucky has a plan to replace them with something more beneficial when they go. Thank you for a post that recognizes their history as well as their less desirable qualities.
I love ginkgo trees they are not invasive in endangered in the wild. They should be planted by humans. What I would do is simply not plant those male cultivars and simply grow them from seeds. I think we should plant some ginkgo trees and some native trees to that area I think that’s best thing to do. Then we have the best of both worlds we save and appreciate an endangered species and we grow native stuff and help native species. Ginkgo trees will have more genetic diversity the more we grow from seeds this is due to genetic recombination and genetic mixing and genetic crossing and a higher chance of mutations. Also it should be noted that while male ginkgo trees produce pollen female trees make seeds which is good for genetic diversity and they actually absorb male pollen with their sticky cones! They act like pollen filters leading to less pollen in the air and thus less allergies! I am saying this as someone with bad pollen allergies in the spring. I think we should plant half male trees and half female trees. Also fun fact about ginkgo trees a ginkgo tree can live to be 2,000 years old and they have been around for roughly 270 million years and barely changed! The dinosaurs used to munch the leaves! Ginkgo trees are the only living member of their genus, family, order, class and phylum! This means they have no living close relatives! Also if anyone is interested in growing ginkgo from seeds you can actually buy ginkgo seeds or baby trees grown from seeds on websites such as Etsy for a few dollars. From seeds ginkgo trees have a 50% chance of being male or female. Ginkgo trees are tough and can grown in zones 3-9! Ginkgo trees prefer moist or dry soil and full sun but will tolerate shade ginkgo trees do not like constantly wet or soggy soil but will tolerate occasional flooding. Ginkgo trees can grow in any soil even hard clay! However ginkgo trees prefer sandier soil when possible. But they will do just fine in clay. To grow ginkgo trees from seed they first need cold moist stratification. This can be done by simply taking ginkgo seeds and placing them in moist sand in a ziplock and putting it in the refrigerator for about 3 months. After the ginkgo seeds are cold stratified they can be sprouted in pots then planted in the ground or directly planted in the ground in summer or spring. Ginkgo seeds may take a month or two to sprout from my experience. They seem to mostly sprout in mid summer. Ginkgo trees are easy to grow and salt resistant and air pollution resistant and drought resistant. This amazing unique tree needs our help!
Of course, we have to acknowledge that ginkgo is a native tree. Though some think of it as Asian, its place in North and South America has been understood since the 1960s. I'm also curious if all these conclusions are based on your inspections or on scientific research about what other living things use ginkgo. I'm all for the diversity you seek, the damn boring nursery industry is ruining out urban forest, but i caution against throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Hi, Jenks, it’s nice to hear from you. My conclusions are based both on observations and on research, and there are links in the story. Urban forests in the US are in steep decline and we need to reverse that trend. One way to do so is to get out of our rigid, uncreative street tree planting. Are you familiar with Miyawaki forests? I think they have great potential.
I”m not familiar with the term but will look it up. I’ve been planting diverse street tree plantings for over 30 years — in horticulture there’s long been a group of people who rail against mono-cultures of domination that landscape architects seem to love. Last week I got to drive through a city street tree and adjacent park planting I got to take over 30 years ago — so nice to feel pride but also to see diversity doing it’s thing — where I remember the firsts proposals from a big l.a. firmer had one single tree. It’s an ongoing fight that takes constant education for clients and city decision makers….
I have a beloved gingko, probably 60+ years old now but I appreciate this wise caution.
Ginkos do not thrive in central Florida. To hot to long. I would like to see more pond cypress trees used .but a far larger problem is the placing of new trees in far to small homes in islands , narrow strips , next to concrete walls and sidewalks where the soil has been completely reconstructed from site work left overs frequently too wet or too dry with road base materials through out . Then a really good tree that thrives anywhere but gets really large / camphor tree / is non native and virtually unavailable .
Life in landscaping is a challenge in an area of intense development .
Such a useful reminder, Tom--thank you! I've added a link to this post in my Capricorn Season post: https://susanwittigalbert.substack.com/p/growing-green-with-the-zodiac-capricorn
Excellent, we need the right trees in the right places.
I'm not aware of any ginkgos in Scotland (aside from probably a few in Botanic Gardens).
I say....No. Gingko is noble tree.
Ive been planting stuff for over 50 years .
One must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Ginkos are not native so they do not feed local wildlife. However because they can tolerate pollution, they draw down more carbon, more photosynthesis, more growth, shade, soil building than stressed trees. Urban people deserve healthy aesthetically pleasing trees, too! Planting ginkos increases the diversity of urban trees. We are all for diversity and not playing favorites.
I agree!
I remember the ginkgos at Henry Clay's Ashland, and that it was he who introduced them to Lexington. There was one on our block too, when I lived in the Highlands area of Louisville. I don't know how long-lived ginkgos are but hope Kentucky has a plan to replace them with something more beneficial when they go. Thank you for a post that recognizes their history as well as their less desirable qualities.
I'll never forget the first time I saw the arboretum specimen in LA. fifty years ago.
I love ginkgo trees they are not invasive in endangered in the wild. They should be planted by humans. What I would do is simply not plant those male cultivars and simply grow them from seeds. I think we should plant some ginkgo trees and some native trees to that area I think that’s best thing to do. Then we have the best of both worlds we save and appreciate an endangered species and we grow native stuff and help native species. Ginkgo trees will have more genetic diversity the more we grow from seeds this is due to genetic recombination and genetic mixing and genetic crossing and a higher chance of mutations. Also it should be noted that while male ginkgo trees produce pollen female trees make seeds which is good for genetic diversity and they actually absorb male pollen with their sticky cones! They act like pollen filters leading to less pollen in the air and thus less allergies! I am saying this as someone with bad pollen allergies in the spring. I think we should plant half male trees and half female trees. Also fun fact about ginkgo trees a ginkgo tree can live to be 2,000 years old and they have been around for roughly 270 million years and barely changed! The dinosaurs used to munch the leaves! Ginkgo trees are the only living member of their genus, family, order, class and phylum! This means they have no living close relatives! Also if anyone is interested in growing ginkgo from seeds you can actually buy ginkgo seeds or baby trees grown from seeds on websites such as Etsy for a few dollars. From seeds ginkgo trees have a 50% chance of being male or female. Ginkgo trees are tough and can grown in zones 3-9! Ginkgo trees prefer moist or dry soil and full sun but will tolerate shade ginkgo trees do not like constantly wet or soggy soil but will tolerate occasional flooding. Ginkgo trees can grow in any soil even hard clay! However ginkgo trees prefer sandier soil when possible. But they will do just fine in clay. To grow ginkgo trees from seed they first need cold moist stratification. This can be done by simply taking ginkgo seeds and placing them in moist sand in a ziplock and putting it in the refrigerator for about 3 months. After the ginkgo seeds are cold stratified they can be sprouted in pots then planted in the ground or directly planted in the ground in summer or spring. Ginkgo seeds may take a month or two to sprout from my experience. They seem to mostly sprout in mid summer. Ginkgo trees are easy to grow and salt resistant and air pollution resistant and drought resistant. This amazing unique tree needs our help!