6 Great Gifts From the Ginkgo Tree – The Most Important Is a Lesson

Often referred to as a “living fossil,” the ginkgo tree that we know and love has seen it all. It is the only surviving species of a genus that dates back to the Triassic period — some 270 million years ago. Ginkgo biloba fed dinosaurs. It survived the mass extinction that wiped them — and most other plant species — out. Then it endured the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), which also caused significant loss in global plant diversity. 

For centuries, the Western world believed this species had also gone the way of the dinosaurs; that is, until a German botanist, Engelbert Kaempfer, observed it growing in Japan in 1691. These trees, like many other aspects of Japanese culture, had been imported from China, where Buddhist monks had cultivated them for thousands of years. 

What made these trees so special that Chinese monks offered their sacred stewardship?

They recognized some of the precious gifts from the ginkgo tree that we still enjoy today. 

Gifts from the ginkgo

Remarkably, the Ginkgo biloba has remained genetically stable for approximately 180 million years. One of the oldest living trees in the world today is a ginkgo in Lebang Village, western China, estimated to be over 4,000 years old. This individual tree witnessed the rise and fall of empires, watched human civilization advance in every direction, and lived at the same time Shakyamuni and Jesus were on earth. Does that not inspire awe?

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Awe gives us a fresh perspective. It reminds us that all the pressing matters that trouble our minds every day hardly amount to a pixel on the big screen. When we look at things from a broader perspective, we see things more clearly, make better decisions, and have greater peace of mind. 

Thank you, Ginkgo, for the fresh perspective!

Having survived multiple calamities that caused mass extinction, it is needless to say that ginkgo is a hardy tree, tolerant of many adverse conditions. This is especially important for street trees, which may be subject to drought, road salt, poor air quality, and rough treatment in general. 

Once established, ginkgo trees can endure almost anything. They are resistant to pests and disease, and, as an added bonus, they improve air quality by absorbing pollutants. 

This useful tree is also quite beautiful, with its unique, fan-shaped leaves that turn a uniform, golden-yellow in autumn before they drop, en masse. Their upright growth is suitable for narrow corridors, like streets and walkways, and the canopy of a mature tree provides ample shade in the summer, when asphalt and concrete surfaces send already-high temperatures skyrocketing.

Thanks, Ginkgo, for making our cities more pleasant!

Classified as a gymnosperm, the ginkgo tree does not technically produce flowers or fruit. Unlike most gymnosperms, however, they do not produce cones, either. Instead, ginkgos produce “naked” seeds encased in a fleshy, outer coat, often mistaken for a fruit. 

This so-called fruit from the ginkgo tree may or may not be considered a gift. It is smelly and messy, and the flesh can cause dermatitis if handled without gloves. The seed inside is edible, but must be properly cooked to remove toxins first. Even then it must only be taken in limited quantities per sitting, and only by adults.

That said, one of the most considerate gifts from the ginkgo is that it gives us an option. 

Most trees are monoecious, and bear both male and female reproductive facilities on the same plant. Ginkgos are dioecious. There are female ginkgos, which produce this mostly-ill-regarded, so-called fruit; and there are male ginkgos, which do not. 

This is why you rarely see ginkgo trees bearing “fruit.” Most municipalities choose to plant male ginkgos, asexually propagated from other male ginkgos. If you do happen to find some seeds and want to try growing ginkgo, I say go for it! Just be aware that each seed has a 50 percent chance of producing a female plant. 

Thanks, Ginkgo, for the option to take the good without the bad!

Because gymnosperms lack the complex vessel structure of angiosperms, their wood is generally classified as “softwood.” Ginkgo showcases its unique qualities again by exhibiting some characteristics of hardwoods. It is soft enough to work with, but hard enough to last. 

Ginkgo wood is suitable for carving, joinery, turned objects and cutting boards. It is pale in color with relatively straight grain and uniform texture. It glues well and takes stains and finishes nicely. In China it was traditionally used for intricate carvings. 

Today, ginkgo is considered endangered by the IUCN (probably thanks to our consistently choosing to plant only male trees), so the wood is hard to come by. Vintage ginkgo-crafted items could be considered a rare treasure. If you love woodworking, plant a couple of ginkgo trees to preserve this precious resource. 

Thank you, Ginkgo, for your sacrifice!

Tending their treasured trees over the millennia, Chinese monks discovered that ginkgo foliage had a very useful property. Extracts made from the leaves seemed to help improve mental clarity and focus — imperative for deep meditation. 

In traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginkgo leaves, known as “silver apricot leaf” (银杏叶 Yin Xing Ye), are believed to improve blood circulation, offering cardiovascular support as well as enhanced cognitive function. TCM also prescribes ginkgo seeds as a respiratory tonic. 

Modern science recognizes the medicinal properties of ginkgo leaves, and ginkgo leaf extracts have become a popular supplement around the world. Ginkgo leaf extracts are particularly effective for elderly individuals with cognitive impairment or dementia. 

Thanks, Ginkgo, for helping us stay healthy and alert!

Throughout East Asia, the ginkgo is regarded as a symbol of longevity and resilience. Besides having extraordinarily-long lifespans, ginkgo trees are among the few living things that survived the atomic bomb. 

Within a few months after most of Hiroshima was destroyed by the world’s first use of nuclear weapons, ancient ginkgos miraculously started sprouting new growth from living wood within their thick bark. They brought hope to a people devastated by war.

By demonstrating remarkable endurance and adaptability through the eons, ginkgo reminds us how we can find strength in flexibility, and power in stillness. Loss, hardship, pain and suffering are inevitable in life, but resilience helps us get through them.