How Does the Ginkgo Tree Reproduce? A Detailed Guide to Common Propagation Methods

The ginkgo tree, also known as the white fruit tree, is a rare relict species from the Mesozoic era and has long been called a “living fossil.” It has high medicinal and ornamental value, and today wild ginkgo trees exist only in Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang. So how does the ginkgo tree reproduce?

1. Ginkgo propagation techniques

Ginkgo can be propagated in three ways: cuttings, division, and sowing. Cuttings can be further divided into hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings; division propagation uses the root-sucker seedlings that grow from the root zone of the mother ginkgo tree for cultivation; sowing propagation uses ginkgo seeds for propagation, generally sown in early to mid-March.

Cuttings can be divided into hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings. Hardwood cuttings are suitable for large-scale growers, while softwood cuttings are suitable for ordinary households and small-scale growers. The general method is to select strong branches, cut them into 20-25 cm long cuttings, make a slanted cut at the lower end, then soak them in rooting powder water for 1 hour before inserting them into the soil and watering. The best time for cuttings is before the plant buds in spring, and the survival rate can reach 80%.

Division propagation generally involves selecting 2-3 year old plants in spring, separating them with roots from the mother plant, and planting them separately. They can be cultivated in a nursery for 1 year or planted directly in place. The method is to scrape the soil clean around the tree roots, use a relatively sharp tool to cut the suckers off the tree, and then plant them elsewhere for cultivation and management; this method generally allows earlier fruiting.

Sowing propagation involves removing the outer skin from seeds harvested in autumn, drying the seeds, and sowing them in winter or spring. When sowing, place the seeds in dug furrows or holes 3-4 cm deep, cover them with soil, and tread the soil firm and thick. After one year the saplings can grow to about 30 cm, and they can then be transplanted.

2. The main value of ginkgo

The value of ginkgo is mainly reflected in two aspects: medicinal and ornamental. Both the fruit and leaves of ginkgo can be used as medicine, and the fruit can also be eaten, though eating too much can easily cause poisoning. Compendium of Materia Medica records that ginkgo “eaten cooked warms the lungs and boosts qi, calms asthma and cough, reduces urination, and stops white turbidity; eaten raw it reduces phlegm, disinfects, and kills worms.” Ginkgo leaf extract has a clear effect on treating coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and hyperlipidemia; in addition, ginkgo also has the effects of tolerating hypoxia, resisting fatigue, and delaying aging.

The ginkgo tree has a beautiful shape and a vigorous, sturdy bearing. Its leaves are tender green in spring and summer and turn golden yellow in autumn, very beautiful and elegant. When used as a street tree, the golden fallen leaves flutter down in abundance, giving a deep sense of autumn. The Tang dynasty poet Wang Wei praised it in verse: “Ginkgo is planted for beams, citronella is woven into eaves; who knows the clouds in the ridge, going off to make rain in the world.”

The above is some related knowledge about ginkgo. Every year when ginkgo turns yellow in autumn, it attracts a large number of tourists to areas where ginkgo is planted to admire it. “A single night of frost falls, and the whole city's ginkgo turns yellow”; the beautiful scene of golden avenues covering the city is also very moving.