nut tree
Ginkgo
Choose male cultivars for ornamental planting if fruit odor is a concern.
Growing Profile
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a-9a
- Sun
- Full
- Soil
- LoamClay
- Water
- Low
- Deer pressure
- Not rated No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
- Black walnut
- Mixed or uncertain Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Planting depth
- Keep the root flare at soil level; graft unions stay above grade.
- Container min
- 45+ gal (in-ground preferred)
- Goals
- Curb appeal & color
Harvest & Use
- Window
- gold fall foliage; nuts on female trees
- Yield return
- 2-15 lb/plant/year
- First output
- 5-10 yrs
- Best for
- Curb appeal & color
Harvest window: gold fall foliage; nuts on female trees. Once established, the current pound-return model uses 2-15 lb/plant/year with a harvest window of 2-5 weeks.
Plant photos
What it looks like in the garden
Use these photos to compare the plant's leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and overall habit before you buy or plant.
Photos show a representative plant in the garden. Cultivar appearance, fruit color, bloom timing, and growth habit can vary by site and season.
Photo sources: Anatoly Mikhaltsov (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quantitative Profile
- Pound return
- 2-15 lb/plant/year
- 10-year return
- 3.4-25.3 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- 10-18 yrs
- Mature size
- 30-70 ft H x 20-45 ft W
- Spacing
- 25-40 ft apart
- Planting depth
- Keep the root flare at soil level; graft unions stay above grade.
- Container min
- 45+ gal (in-ground preferred)
- Productive life
- 25-75 yrs
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Reliability
- 2/5
- Data quality
- Low profile, Low yield confidence
Pound return is the stock-style yield metric. These are planning ranges for comparing plants, not guarantees. Cultivar, rootstock, climate, soil, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife can move actual results.
Planting Checklist
8 itemsPlant by ZIP may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through checklist links.
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Tree trunk guard
Protection / After plantingProtect young trunks from mower damage, sunscald, rabbits, and rubbing injury.
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Fruit tree and berry fertilizer
Nutrition / After establishmentSupport fruiting wood, bloom, and recovery after establishment once soil needs are known.
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Digging spade or shovel
Tools / Planting dayOpen planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.
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Tree stake kit
Support / Planting dayStabilize newly planted trees only where wind, slope, or root-ball movement makes support necessary.
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Organic mulch
Soil / After plantingHold soil moisture, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and protect shallow roots.
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Plant labels
Planning / Planting dayTrack cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.
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Finished compost
Soil / Bed prepImprove bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
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Loppers or pruning saw
Maintenance / First dormant seasonHandle woody stems and branches too large for hand pruners.
Yield curve
Estimated Pound Return
Projected annual yield ramp from establishment to full production, using the current sourced range for Ginkgo.
- Year 1
- 0 lb Establishment year: focus on roots before harvest.
- Year 5
- 0.4-3 lb
- Year 10
- 0.9-6.4 lb
- 10-year total
- 3.4-25.3 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting Strategy
- Planting depth: Keep the root flare at soil level; graft unions stay above grade.
- Container minimum: 45+ gal (in-ground preferred). Large trees can be started in containers but are not practical long-term patio crops.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
Risk Factors
- Match the site first: full light, loam, clay soil, and low water.
- Use 25-40 ft apart as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 30-70 ft H x 20-45 ft W.
- Quantitative data quality is low for this record; verify before buying or planting at scale.
- Local drainage, pests, chill hours, wildlife pressure, and microclimates can change the result.
Related Planning Guides
Comparable Plants
Sources & Methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: NC State Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxMissouri Botanical Garden Plant FinderUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables
Supplier search: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.