The ginkgo biloba is a special tree. It’s one of the few examples of a “living fossil“, a species that exists today, and appears in fossils without much change. It is also unique in that it is classified as a conifer, and yet it has broad leaves. Four gingko trees survived within a 2 km radius of the Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion.
As bonsai, however, ginkgo biloba present certain challenges.
Unlike many other species used in bonsai, the leaves of the ginkgo do not reduce in size. This makes creating the illusion of a mature tree in miniature rather difficult. So the most convincing ginkgo bonsai are larger specimens.
They also don’t callus over wounds, so large cuts should be avoided.
Nor do they tolerate cold very well. They should be kept on the dry side during winter, to avoid bursting roots. Winter protection is required in most areas of Canada. (I tried letting some ginkgo saplings and cuttings overwinter in Montreal with minimal insulation and none survived.)
All these challenges aside, ginkgo are very tolerant of pollution (this is probably a factor in their longevity).
Their leaves also turn a wonderful shade of golden yellow in the fall. Unlike many other deciduous trees which lose their leaves gradually in the fall, the ginkgo leaves all tend to fall in a short period of time; often in a single day. This is most spectacular non-bonsai ginkgo, but can also be interesting in bonsai.
So if you’re up to the challenge, ginkgo biloba can make a great addition to your bonsai collection, but recognize their unique requirements.
When on the market for bonsai tools, it can be sometimes daunting, since you can find the same tool in versions ranging from $10 all the way to $150 and beyond. There is a huge difference in quality over this price range, but unfortunately product descriptions often don’t get into these details.
