Ginkgo biloba Simon

Ginkgo biloba 'Simon' is a selection which is characterised by a compact growth, more suitable for smaller gardens. This small deciduous tree sometimes develops multiple trunks and a particularly dense spreading crown that turns golden in autumn. It is a sterile variety that does not produce fruits. Plant it in full sun, in any good garden soil that is not too dry, and it won't require much maintenance.

Ginkgo biloba 'Simon' is a Dutch horticultural selection dating back to 1997. The typical species, sometimes called maidenhair because of the shape of its leaves and the pattern of its veins, is a very primitive tree of the ginkgoales family, which is now almost extinct. This living fossil, which does not produce flowers, normally reaches a height of up to 24m and has an upright habit in its youth, spreading as it ages, measuring up to 9m in diameter. This majestic tree, native to China, has now (and probably for a long time) disappeared from its natural habitat, surviving only thanks to the admiration and respect it has inspired in human beings for many generations, who continue to plant and propagate it in their most beautiful parks.

The 'Simon' Ginkgo biloba develops one or more trunks and a very dense, irregular crown, initially narrow, which widens over time. Its bark is brown-grey. It has an annual growth rate of about 30 to 45 cm. At the age of 10, the plant measures approximately 1.50m in height and 1m in width. Ultimately, its dimensions can reach 6m in height and 4m in width. In this cultivar, all individuals are male and therefore do not produce fruits. Its semi-circular fan-shaped leaves measure 8 to 10 cm in length. They are matte green from spring to summer and then turn intensely golden yellow at the end of the season before falling. The foliage develops quite late in spring.

A beautiful specimen to display in isolation in a small garden, or even in a large container on a terrace. Ginkgo biloba 'Simon' integrates particularly well into Japanese-inspired, exotic, or contemporary designs. While it can stand alone, it can be paired with red-leaved Japanese maples, oakleaf hydrangeas, which exhibit beautiful colours in autumn, colourful barberries, smokebush, etc. The contrast between the shapes and colours of the foliage can create a small spectacle in the garden at the end of the season. It is also a beautiful addition to an urban garden or a rooftop terrace.

Good to know: strangely, despite its deciduous leaves, Ginkgo biloba is a conifer from a botanical point of view. It is a very hardy shrub. It is also very robust. It was one of the few plants to have survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima in 1945!

It is the oldest tree species found on earth, dating back 300 million years, surviving all the cataclysms that the earth has experienced. This "tree of a thousand coins" has been living for thousands of years in the Tianmushan Mountains in southeast China. It was reintroduced to Europe in the 18th century. In addition to its exceptional longevity, Ginkgo is also a medicinal plant, with its leaves being used to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.