Ginkgo

Ginkgo is the bonsai that comes with extra context. The species is the sole surviving member of an entire plant lineage that flourished alongside dinosaurs and went into steep decline through the last ice ages — extinct in the wild for over 1,000 years, surviving only in cultivation in China before being reintroduced to the rest of the world via Buddhist temple gardens. Every Ginkgo on the planet today descends from a tiny number of specimens preserved in Chinese temple grounds. The species is a genuine "living fossil" in a way no other tree quite matches.

Beyond the deep history, Ginkgo as bonsai offers distinctive aesthetic features. The fan-shaped leaves (the "biloba" of the name refers to the bilobed leaf shape) are unlike any other temperate species. Autumn colour is reliably brilliant — a clean butter-yellow that turns the whole tree gold for 1–2 weeks before the leaves drop in a single brief shower. The bark develops attractive corky fissures on older specimens. And the species is essentially pest-free and disease-resistant — modern Ginkgo descended from trees that survived 200 million years of plant evolution by being genuinely tough.

For UK bonsai growers, the species offers genuine ease of cultivation paired with a slow rate of trunk development. Ginkgo grows steadily but slowly — bonsai-suitable thickness takes 15–20 years from young nursery stock — so most quality material is either purchased as established specimens or developed over decades. The slow growth is partly what gives mature Ginkgo bonsai their extraordinary trunk character; rushing the development eliminates the species' main aesthetic asset.

One practical note for buyers: Ginkgo is dioecious — separate male and female trees. Female trees produce strong-smelling fleshy fruit that some people find genuinely unpleasant. Most ornamental Ginkgo cultivars sold by UK garden centres are male-only selections (Princeton Sentry, Autumn Gold) to avoid this. For bonsai purposes, sex doesn't matter aesthetically and female trees rarely fruit at bonsai scale anyway.

Daily through the growing season. Ginkgo tolerates inconsistent watering better than refined deciduous species but consistent dryness reduces autumn colour intensity.

In hot summer weather, twice daily for trees in shallow pots. The species' fan-shaped leaves are slightly less prone to scorch than maple leaves but heatwaves can still cause damage.

In winter while dormant, reduce watering significantly. Tap water of any hardness is fine.

Weekly liquid feed from late April through to mid-September. Slow-release organic pellets in spring and early summer.

Ginkgo responds to consistent moderate feeding. The species' slow growth means heavy feeding doesn't produce dramatic vigour response — restrained feeding suits the cultivar character better than aggressive regimes.

Stop feeding by mid-September.

Free-draining and tolerant. Ginkgo accepts a wide range of substrates including slightly alkaline conditions.

Repot every 3–4 years on young trees, every 4–5 on mature specimens. The window is mid-February through to early April. Repot as buds swell.

Ginkgo tolerates moderate root work — up to a third of the root mass on healthy trees. The species recovers slowly compared to vigorous deciduous bonsai but reliably. Don't expect dramatic visible recovery in the first season after repotting.

Ginkgo pruning is forgiving but the species' slow growth means each year's work matters. Back-budding is reliable on old wood but the new shoots are slow to develop into substantial branches.

Structural pruning in late winter (February). Through the growing season, let new shoots extend to four or five leaves then cut back to two. Pinch every 3–4 weeks — less frequently than for vigorous species, as Ginkgo extension is moderate.

The species has a distinctive growth pattern: short spur shoots that produce fan-leaves in tight clusters develop on older wood and continue producing for many years. These spurs are valuable for refined ramification — don't accidentally remove them when pruning, as new spurs take 2–3 years to develop.

Defoliation isn't a useful technique on Ginkgo. The leaves are already appropriately small and the species responds poorly to total defoliation. Selective leaf removal of largest leaves works better.

Wire after leaves harden in early summer or on bare branches in winter. Bark develops corky fissures on older specimens — apply wire loosely and check fortnightly to avoid biting in on developing bark. Aluminium for most work.

The species' slow growth means wire often stays on for full growing seasons without biting in dramatically. Annual wire checks are sufficient on most trees.

Informal upright is the natural fit. The species' habit suits literati on tall slender material with a top of foliage — referencing the natural high-altitude or temple-grown forms of mature wild Ginkgo. Twin-trunk works well. Broom style suits older specimens with rounded crowns.

Cascade and semi-cascade are uncommon but possible. Formal upright suits some mature specimens with naturally upright habit.

The species' main aesthetic assets are the distinctive fan-shaped leaves, brilliant autumn colour, and developed trunk character on mature trees. Styling should showcase these.

Fully hardy across the UK with no protection needed. Ginkgo is exceptionally hardy — temperatures down to -30°C don't harm established trees, and the species' urban tolerance means pollution and other environmental stresses don't matter.

The brilliant butter-yellow autumn colour develops over 1–2 weeks in October-November, then the entire tree drops its leaves in a single brief shower over 1–2 days — one of the more dramatic deciduous events in bonsai. The fallen yellow leaves are a feature; sweep them up after they've had time to be admired.

Never bring indoors.

From seed possible — slow germination, often 18+ months, but reliable. Cuttings are difficult. Air layering works on suitable branches and is the typical route for cultivar propagation. The best route to bonsai material is purchased nursery stock (10+ years old) developed over years, or collected garden specimens.

Essentially trouble-free. Ginkgo's 200-million-year evolutionary history has produced one of the most disease and pest-resistant trees in cultivation. Most "problems" are growth-related rather than health issues.