Ginkgo biloba: A Living Fossil

According to Charles Darwin, a living fossil describes a species that have managed to remain physically identical over the millennia and are still alive today. A great example of a living fossil is one that puts on a beautiful display of vibrant yellow autumn color, the Ginkgo biloba tree. A leaf of this tree which is commonly known as a ginkgo or maidenhair was found in China in a fossil that dates back to 270 million years ago during the middle Jurassic epoch. A true living fossil that exists in so many of our landscapes today.

The fact that it has survived all these millennia is a testament to its resiliency. Its’ survival included several glacial events as well as mass extinctions. The ginkgo tree is often planted in urban areas because it tolerates a variety of growing conditions. It is pollution and salt tolerant as well as disease and insect resistant. Although not a native tree, it is not listed in any state or national invasive species list.

The ginkgo produces easily recognizable but unusual fan shaped, medium-green leaves in spring. It is in autumn, however, when the leaves turn a vivid yellow that it makes its’ presence known. The ginkgo will usually hold the beautiful fall color until mid-November when a hard frost occurs.  Amazingly, this occurrence causes most, if not all, of the leaves to fall from the tree at the same time. The beauty of all of the fallen bright yellow leaves prolongs the colorful show.