Wednesday Street Tree #11
Ginkgo
There is an urban myth that claims ginkgos all turn their vibrant autumnal yellow colour on the same day. Around me, this is patently not true, some trees are nearly leafless, while others are still quite green, and some are at peak gold. What can be said about ginkgos is they do turn uniformly yellow which can be a breathtaking sight, especially on a sunny day.
This rather ungainly example is certainly at peak gold, while its neighbour is almost leafless. Interestingly our tree is female, a gender less encountered among ginkgo street trees. In fact, 80-90% of ginkgos planted on our streets are male, a gender favoured by urban foresters for their perceived tidiness – they don’t drop messy fruits, which, as well as being squidgy, are also pongy. And that pong is quite something, if you have never smelt it, I recommend a trip down the Holloway Road in north London to find this tree so you can experience one of autumn’s more piquant pleasures.
What is it?
Ginkgo or maidenhair tree
Ginkgo biloba
Where is it?
Alexander Road, Archway, London N19 3PQ
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One of my neighbors (in Brooklyn, NY) has been scrubbing the flesh off ginkgo fruit for a few days and drying the kernels. The flesh is very irritating to skin (hence the gloves) and stinky. The kernels will be roasted and eaten, in moderation!
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/ginkgo-nuts/
I love the Street Trees posts! But I'm not keen on having those smelly Jurassic trees in my yard! Lots of other trees have gorgeous foliage minus the odious and odorous fruits! Avoid the female Gingkos at all costs!