Ginkgo (ginkgo bilboa)

About these specimens: Gingko trees that line both sides of this block of Delancey Street afford an opportunity to appreciate this city favorite. Many appear to be the same age, but some are growing much more vigorously than others. The relative size of their pits is a good clue. The healthiest of these gingkoes enjoy larger pits and, therefore, more air, water and soil nutrients.

Leaf and flower: fan-shaped, about 3” across, yellow in fall; leaf extract is said to improve memory. The male tassel-like catkins and stubby female flowers are found on separate trees

Bark and branching: sparse branches are straight and sparse at an upward angle; leaves grow from stubby pegs

Fruit: ginkgoes are either male or female. Only females produce crabapple-sized, apricot- colored rancid smelling fruit.

Average mature size in city: 40’– 80’ tall

Origin: one of the earth’s oldest plant species; in the dinosaur era it grew across all temperate regions; westerners found ginkgoes in China in the 17th century and exported them to Europe; In 1784 William Hamilton planted the first one in America in Philadelphia in his Woodland estate in West Philadelphia.

Other notable features: Ginkgoes are hardy city trees able to survive pests, drought, salt, city soils and some pollution. Only males currently are planted in cities because of the female “fruit problem”; the females in center city are all older trees that pre-dated the females’ exclusion from polite society. A favorite of Frank Lloyd Wright.