GINKGO BILOBA

FAMILY: GINKGOACEAE
GINKGO, BAI-GUO: The last surviving genus of a plant family from the Mesozoic era (240 million years ago), it is a large, slow growing deciduous and dioecious tree. Hardy and easy to grow, being very resistant to pests, fire and even air polution.

It is said that an old ginkgo tree near atomic bomb blast ground-zero in Hiroshima in 1945 sprouted new leaves a few months after the blast.

The seeds are used traditionally for lung problems and the leaves are used for circulatory problems and as a memory improver. Grow in full sun. In North America, male trees are preferred because they are “less messy.” In China female trees are preferred because they are more useful. Seeds are poisonous in extremely large quantities.