Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Maidenhair Tree

Description:

This is a dwarf ginkgo tree with distinctive, light green fan-shaped leaves; spreading vase shaped habit with rich golden hues in fall; deeply bi-lobed leaves resemble butterflies; 12 feet in 10 years, mature height is undetermined

Ornamental Features

Jade Butterflies Ginkgo is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has emerald green deciduous foliage. The fan-shaped leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Jade Butterflies Ginkgo is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Jade Butterflies Ginkgo is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Jade Butterflies Ginkgo will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.