As old as the ginkgo is, it is also as mysterious. This tree, which is neither a real conifer nor a deciduous tree, existed many millions of years ago. The growth form is also very different depending on the breed.
Ginkgo trees can reach impressive sizes
How fast does a ginkgo grow?
Most Ginkgo varieties grow relatively slowly. Some grow no more than four centimeters per year, with larger varieties the annual growth is around 30 to 40 centimeters.
How big can a ginkgo get?
In its homeland, the Ginkgo biloba can reach a height of 40 meters, sometimes even larger. In your own garden, you should expect a final height of 25 to 30 meters, depending on the variety. However, your ginkgo needs a lot of time to do this, but it can live for several hundred years.
In the first 20 to 25 years, the ginkgo mainly grows tall, so it remains fairly slender. Only later does it also grow in width and form a rather stately crown. Therefore, give it a sufficiently large location when planting.
The essentials in brief:
- grows rather slowly
- Size depending on the variety up to over 30 m, dwarf varieties also up to approx. 1 m
- most slender growth form with few side branches
- special cultivated forms: spherical crown or hanging branches
tips
Even if the ginkgo grows slowly, it needs a lot of space when it gets older. It is best to take this into account when planting, because transplanting does not do it so well when it gets old.