LIVING FOSSIL

MAIDENHAIR TREE IS THE LAST SURVIVING SPECIES IN AN ORDER OF PLANTS THAT FIRST APPEARED NEARLY 300 MILLION YEARS AGO

Words Chloe Thomson

The ginkgo or maidenhair tree is an ancient and long-lived deciduous tree from the age of the dinosaurs. It can reach a height of more than 30m, though I’ve had one growing in a large 50cm pot for the past 12 years and it’s thriving — so don’t think you haven’t the space for a ginkgo in your garden. My favourite thing about ginkgo trees is the buttery golden colour of their leaves in autumn. In spring and summer, the lobed, fan-shaped leaves that flutter beautifully in the breeze are a bright lime-green colour. It’s often one of the last trees to change in late autumn and, even when the leaves fall, the colour display isn’t finished — the yellow leaves create a golden carpet that’s so pretty I’m always reluctant to rake…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, 15.2

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