Bonsai Supplies

Plants Used in Bonsai: Olive, Ginkgo Biloba, Eastern White Pine, Quince, Ficus Aurea, Acer Rubrum, Cherry Blossom, Prunus Mume, Ficus Obliqua

Chapters: Olive, Ginkgo Biloba, Eastern White Pine, Quince, Ficus Aurea, Acer Rubrum, Cherry Blossom, Prunus Mume, Ficus Obliqua, Ulmus Parvifolia, Robinia Pseudoacacia, Juniperus Virginiana, Acer Palmatum, Taxodium Distichum, Cedrus Libani, Pinus Ponderosa, Zelkova Serrata, Ficus Rubiginosa, Cycas Revoluta, Acer Campestre, Buxus, Pemphis, Ficus Coronata, Casuarina Equisetifolia, Ficus Benjamina, Ulmus Alata, Chamaecyparis Obtusa, Acer Buergerianum, Carissa, Adenium, Prunus Serrulata, Ficus Micr

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Ginkgo Bonsai (ginkgo biloba), the maidenhair tree, care and information

Ginkgo biloba are deciduous prehistoric trees once thought to be extinct until rediscovered in China. Teris Andre van Beek states, “Botanical and historical data suggest that the tree has survived because of the protection afforded by humans” (529). So there is some debate as to whether or not there are any truly wild ginkgo left. However, most do agree there are Ginkgo remaining in the wild in “east China, the West Tienmushan mountains, Zhejiang province, the southern mountainous area and the Dabieshan mountains” (Andre van Beek, 529). Fortunately for the ginkgo its popularity in bonsai and landscaping should keep it from ever becoming close to extinction.

The ginkgo is a very distinctive tree which makes it great for bonsai. Its fan shaped leaves consisting of two lobes turn bright golden yellow in fall. It has been referred to as the tree of forty gold crowns. Ginkgo are also known as the maidenhair tree because their leaves resemble that of the maidenhair fern. Even with typical bonsai leaf pruning and defoliation techniques the leaves of the ginkgo biloba will not reduce in size very much so for proper perspective one should use them in kifu, medium, and dai, large, bonsai instead of mame. Female trees tend to develop a wider crown whereas male ginkgo trees tend to be slimmer. Male trees are normally used in landscaping because the fruit of the female trees have a foul odor. This is less of a problem in bonsai because they rarely fruit when grown as bonsai.

Ginkgo does well as an outdoor bonsai because of its adaptability. It does well in full to partial sun. It is not as picky as some bonsai about what kind of soil you pot it in. A basic bonsai soil that is well draining and retains moisture works best. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8A and can grow fine in the compact conditions of a bonsai pot. Ginkgo are much more tolerant of drought than other bonsai trees and they are not prone to any pests.

It will do best in a deeper bonsai pot instead of a shallow one. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are possible mica pots may be preferred as their roots are sensitive to freezing and mica pots do better at promoting stable soil temperatures. The roots need to be protected from freezing because they hold a large amount of moisture there. In areas where freezing weather is possible you can bury the bonsai pot at level with the ground and cover the surface with mulch. This will shield the soil in the bonsai pot from temperature extremes.

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Often referred to as a fossil tree or maidenhair tree, Ginkgo Biloba has many traits that set it apart from all other plants. These traits also have played a role in the survival of the species such as its resilience to pests, long life, and high fertility rates of its seeds. These trees are extremely resilient to air pollution and fires reducing death tolls of the species during catastrophic events. However, despite its beneficial traits it was it was thought to be extinct until about 100 years ago. Ancient specimens were found in a secluded area in China and were used to produce new trees. These seedlings were dispersed around the world and now ginkgoes, although uncommon, are not too rare if you know where to look.

In traditional medicine the ginkgo was believed to help circulation and reduce forgetfulness. It is exceptional at treating mental maladies like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Though, as medicine it is used mainly in Europe rather than in the U.S. It is one of the most prescribed botanical extracts in the European market. Studies have shown that the extract from the leaves and seeds have positive effects regarding conditions from asthma and bronchitis to erectile dysfunction.

Although the Ginkgo is deciduous, it is more closely related to pines than to any broadleaf trees. It is one of the few deciduous conifers along with the dawn redwood, and the bald Cyprus. The cones it bears are generally too small to notice but the classification doesn’t change because of it.

Ginkgos are also unique because of the fact that they are dioecious; this means that they possess gender. Female and male aspects of the species differ between plants rather than between the parts of a single plant. Male trees possess pollen forming structures while the female trees bear flowers and fruit. Female ginkgos are rarely grown purposely however, because the fruit they bear smells of rotting carrion.

Most ginkgos for commercial sale are grown from cuttings taken from male trees to ensure cleanliness. The cuttings take root easily but pruning scars take a great deal of time to heal, so care must be taken while trimming. They grow slow after the initial rooting or sprouting but will live a great deal longer than most trees if good conditions exist. The oldest specimens are nearly one-thousand years old. Due to their resilience on so many threatening fronts they make sturdy beautiful shade trees in any yard. They even put on a show in the fall presenting a brilliant display of yellows and golds just before the cold of winter begins and the leaves fall. Many of the cities on the east coast of the United States are known for the fall color of their abundant Ginkgoes.

In the oriental art of bonsai, these trees are common subjects. Often they are older in pots than in the ground. Large stalactite structures that form on full-grown trees can be taken as cuttings which produce decent bonsai in a much shorter time span than traditional bonsai that involves immature seedlings.

The most remarkable Ginkgoes however, are those few that were located near the epicenter of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast and survived while so much other life was lost. In 2008 there were still four of these surviving trees. They didn’t even have any visible deformity after they rebudded after their initial leaf loss. The trees are now a symbol of hope to the Japanese people that lost so much August 8, 1945.