Ginkgo
The ginkgo is one of the planet’s oldest and longest-lived trees. The species is a living fossil, largely unchanged for some 300 million years. A highly unusual tree with unique, fan-shaped leaves, it can get very tall (up to 35 metres/115 feet or more), but it grows extremely slowly. Some trees are believed to be more than 1,000 years old. Ginkgo biloba originated in China, where it has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, but is now grown in many places around the world.
Health Benefits
Ginkgo is a “brain herb” that improves memory and age-related mental decline. It improves blood flow to the far corners of the brain, mainly due to its anticoagulant effects. It also encourages release of a powerful natural chemical called nitric oxide that helps to open up the blood vessels of the brain for better circulation and better cognitive function.
Some of the nutrients in ginkgo leaves are powerful antioxidants, including the terpenes and proanthocyanidins. These compounds protect brain nerve cells, allowing them to communicate better and improving cognition and alertness. They may also increase synthesis of an important memory chemical called acetylcholine.
Ginkgo also helps with problems related to the eye. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy—diseases that severely impede sight—are related to decreased circulation to the optic nerve, as well as inflammation and blockage of the tiny blood vessels in the eye. By opening up these blood vessels and decreasing the stickiness of blood platelets, ginkgo helps feed the optic nerve with blood nutrients and oxygen.
The circulatory benefits are not limited to the eyes. Ginkgo also helps improve blood flow to the extremities and improves peripheral vascular disease, which afflicts those with diabetes, Raynaud’s, and Buerger’s disease. And if that wasn’t enough, it may also help circulation to the genital region to aid in erectile dysfunction.
DIFFICULTY
Easy
HARDINESS
Perennial in zones 3 to 9
TIME TO PLANT
Early spring or early fall
TIME TO HARVEST
Late spring to early summer
LOCATION
Full sun
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained; will not tolerate wet soils
Growing
The ginkgo—or maidenhair tree—is a slow-growing shade tree that has survived ice ages, wars, and even the pollution of cities. Some are hundreds of years old, and the oldest ginkgo fossils date from a period before flowering plants even existed! If you are looking for instant gratification, ginkgo won’t give it to you, but if you desire an attractive specimen offering vibrant yellow fall colour and edible foliage, then this is your tree. On the downside, ginkgo is a messy tree that often drops its leaves, so don’t place it close to your deck or pool unless you like to clean.
Gingko trees are either male or female. Female trees produce a fruit that smells awful when crushed, so choose male plants for your garden (this should be clearly labelled on the plant tag).
Common Varieties: There are many cultivars of Ginkgo biloba offering different mature heights and foliage colour. Varieties include ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘Jade Butterflies’, ‘Fairmount’, and ‘Pendula’. Smaller varieties such as ‘Chi-Chi’, ‘Troll’, and ‘Horizontalis’ are suitable for containers.
PLANT
Plant ginkgo in early spring or early fall when frequency of rain is greater, and days are warm but nights are cool. That combination is ideal for root establishment of any shade tree or container-grown shrub. Locate in full sun.
Dig a hole twice the depth of the root ball and two-and-a-half times the width. Improve the soil by removing any clay or sand and add loam and manure. Backfill the hole while ensuring the root ball is just above ground level. If your gingko came from the nursery in a container, remove it and score the roots before placing it in the planting hole; with field-dug gingko, just place it into the hole and remove the burlap. Firmly tamp down the amended soil around the root ball.
Stake your new tree and water it deeply. Then get comfortable and wait!
GROW
Gingko is a slow grower—sometimes painfully slow. New plants will take several months to root, and you will not notice growth until the second or third season. But slow and steady wins the race! Gingko is a salt-tolerant, pollution-tolerant tree that will endure pretty much everything you throw at it once it’s established, including periods of drought.
Most garden varieties of gingko won’t grow more than 5 to 8 metres (16 to 26 feet), but I have seen some very mature specimens reach 12 to 20 metres (40 to 65 feet) high by 6 to 12 metres (20 to 40 feet) wide.
Remember, soil settles! One of the biggest failures with new trees and shrubs is planting too deep. This increases the chances your plants will drown during the growing season, especially in clay soils. You should plant trees and shrubs above ground level in clay soils. Even in well-drained soils, large plantings like shade trees should be slightly above ground level; root balls will settle in and drop slightly after watering because the soil will compact.
HARVEST
Harvest the foliage when the tree has fully “leafed out” in late spring or early summer. The goal is to get tender leaves before they mature; old leaves are tough and may lack potency. Be selective: Prune inward-facing or arching branches first, as this will increase airflow and benefit overall tree health. Strip all of the leaves from the branches you just pruned. If you need more leaves, be sure to remove random leaves, never stripping entire branches at one time. Do this midday when it’s cool and dry.
You may be able to enjoy a harvest even if you don’t have a gingko on your property. Gingko often can be found in native forests and are a popular roadside planting—there may even be one on your street.
STORE
Gingko leaves can be eaten in salads, brewed in teas, or made into extracts. The leaves can be used fresh or dried. Wash fresh leaves just before use. Store fresh leaves in resealable bags in the refrigerator for up to a week. To dry gingko, place the leaves on a drying tray or baking sheet in a well-ventilated area out of direct light for up to 2 weeks, until brittle (see “Drying Herbs at Home” on page 365). After drying, store the leaves in an airtight container and use for teas.
Put It to Work
Drawing blanks? Try this tincture!
The best way to put ginkgo to work is to make an alcohol tincture. It’s super-easy! Just pick 2 cups of ginkgo leaves, wash them, and place in a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar). Cover with about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of vodka (at least 80 proof). Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Set aside in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks, shaking the jar daily.
After 4 weeks, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, ensuring you press out all the liquid from the ginkgo. Take 1 teaspoon daily for improved cognitive function and memory. This formula will keep in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Bad memory? Don’t forget about this tea!
Place 5 coarsely chopped fresh ginkgo leaves or 1 heaping tablespoon of dried ginkgo in a mug with 1 cup of boiling water. Cover with a saucer and steep for 15 minutes. Sweeten with manuka honey to taste. To achieve the same effects of 1 teaspoon of tincture, you’ll need to drink at least 3 to 4 cups of this tea per day.
Mental fatigue? Toss back some brain-boosting gel shots!
If your issue is forgetfulness or lack of mental energy, what are the chances you’ll remember to take the tincture or tea? We’ve got the solution: ginkgo gel shots. You’ll need 7 shot glasses. We recommend one shot a day, and you can make a week’s worth in advance so they’ll be in plain sight in the refrigerator and you won’t forget!
Place 7 tablespoons of ginkgo tincture (see opposite page) into a small mixing bowl. Add 1 ounce (a shot glass full) of Jell-O powder (your choice of flavour) and ½ cup of boiling water. Mix well. Pour evenly into each of the 7 shot glasses and refrigerate. “Shoot” one per day for optimal memory.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase PhytoPharmica’s Ginkgo Phytosome capsules or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
This plant has a powerful anticoagulant effect, and there have been reports of internal bleeding in those who took ginkgo. Do not combine gingko with anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin or aspirin, ibuprofen, or any other type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has blood-thinning effects.