The Hillsborough Tree Board has selected a ginkgo on Wake Street as this year’s treasure tree.

The ginkgo or maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba, is located on private property at 107 N. Wake St. and can be viewed from the street. The ginkgo is a deciduous tree native to East Asia and known for its longevity. This specimen is estimated to be at least 50 years old. Ginkgo trees commonly live up to 1,000 years, with some trees reported to be over 2,500 years old.

Ginkgos are dioecious, with separate male and female trees. Nurseries mostly sell male ginkgos. Only the female will produce fruits and seeds.

Tree Board members primarily encourage the planting of native species. They recognize and welcome certain non-native, non-invasive species for their ability to thrive in tough urban sites like parking lots and sidewalks.

Ginkgo trees tolerate the conditions of tough urban environments — compacted soils, drought, road salt, air pollution and restricted rooting spaces — better than many other shade trees. In 2015, the Tree Board approved the planting of ginkgo trees in the public parking lot on West King Street in recognition of their value as a city-tough tree.

The ginkgo has been referred to as a living fossil, with similar fossilized remains dating to 250 million years ago. They are the last living member of the genus Ginkgoaceae and were present when dinosaurs roamed. Surviving eons of geologic and climate change, the ginkgo is resilient enough to survive in modern urban forests challenged by climate change. Several ginkgos growing near Hiroshima survived the atomic bomb blast and continue to grow today, making the species an enduring symbol of resilience and hope.

Ginkgo trees were cultivated in temple gardens in China for more than a thousand years, later spreading to Korea and Japan. Their seeds and leaves were used in traditional Chinese medicine, and modern extracts are sold as herbal supplements.

More Information

The Tree Board’s Treasure Trees Program recognizes the preservation of significant trees in the Hillsborough area. See the Treasure Trees page for information on nominating a tree or for a map to take a self-guided walk of treasure trees.