The Ginkgo biloba is the sole surviving species of a plant lineage dating back over 270 million years. It is known for its unique fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in autumn and its resilience to pests, disease, and urban pollution. Understanding the potential size and growth habits of the Ginkgo is important for landscape planning, as its ultimate dimensions can be surprisingly large. The tree’s final size is determined by its genetics, environment, and the specific cultivar chosen for planting.
Ultimate Size Potential of Ginkgo Trees
When grown in ideal conditions, the Ginkgo biloba species tree is capable of achieving impressive, towering dimensions. The maximum potential height for a standard Ginkgo typically ranges from 50 to 80 feet, although some exceptionally old specimens have been known to exceed 100 feet. These trees possess a long lifespan, often living for over a thousand years, allowing them centuries to accumulate size. The canopy spread is also substantial, commonly reaching 30 to 40 feet wide at maturity. While young trees often exhibit a narrow, pyramidal shape, the canopy broadens and becomes more irregular as the tree ages.
Understanding Ginkgo Growth Speed
The rate at which a Ginkgo tree approaches its ultimate size is generally classified as slow to moderate. In their first few years after planting, young Ginkgos can be particularly slow to establish and may only grow between 6 to 12 inches annually. Once the tree is established, which can take a couple of years, the growth rate typically increases to about 1 to 2 feet per year. This pace means that achieving its near-maximum potential height of 50 to 80 feet can take many decades.
How Environment and Cultivars Affect Size
The final size of a Ginkgo in a cultivated landscape is most often dictated by the specific cultivar selected, rather than the maximum potential of the species. Nurseries propagate male-only cultivars to avoid the foul-smelling, messy seeds produced by female trees, and these selections often come with predetermined size and shape expectations. For instance, the ‘Autumn Gold’ cultivar is a popular choice that retains the broad, spreading crown, maturing to about 40 to 50 feet tall with a spread of 25 to 30 feet.
In contrast, columnar cultivars are specifically bred for narrow spaces and will never reach the width of the species tree. Varieties like ‘Princeton Sentry’ or ‘Fastigiata’ are tall but slender, typically growing 40 to 50 feet high but only 10 to 20 feet wide. Dwarf varieties, such as ‘Troll’ or ‘Chase Manhattan,’ are also available, which are bred to remain very small, sometimes only reaching 3 to 6 feet tall.
Beyond cultivar selection, environmental factors in urban or residential settings can significantly limit growth. Although the Ginkgo is highly tolerant of pollution, compacted soil, and salt, severe stress will inhibit its development. Limited root space, poor drainage, or heavy pruning can keep a tree smaller than its genetic potential, even for a full-sized cultivar.