With true grace and pageantry, they fall. The leaves twirl and swirl into a soft, golden puddle beneath silver-barked, bare limbs after the first nip of hard frost. This is the Ginkgo biloba’s crowning finale signaling the end of the growing season and casting a magical spell on the autumn air. Don’t miss this botanical event.

The ginkgo has a long past. This tree is the only surviving member of a group of ancient plants believed to have inhabited the earth millions of years ago. Having no serious insect or disease problems certainly helped with its sustainability.

The most distinctive feature of this deciduous ornamental is its fan-shaped, two-lobed broad leaves. Spring launches a show of bright green leaves, turning chartreuse as fall approaches. Even when new, the leaf is leathery to the touch. It remains intact long after shedding this time of year. Shaped so exquisitely, they are often commercially dipped in gold and sold as jewelry.

A common name for the ginkgo is the maidenhair tree, given the ginkgo leaf’s resemblance to maidenhair fern leaflets. Each fan flutters with the lightest of November breezes only to be tossed to the four winds when freezing strikes. Yet the beauty doesn’t end there. The tree’s textured gray bark has a reflective quality in winter. And there is no mistaking the sizeable leaf buds that hail to Mother Nature for an early spring.

Notably, there are separate male and female plants. Heed the hearty warning to acquire only the fruitless, male trees. Females produce a fleshy, cherry-sized seed capsule that, when it ripens and falls in autumn, emits a noxious odor and creates a mess on the surrounding ground. Some people may even be allergic to the soft pulp. That said, ginkgo nuts are harvested for their reputed medicinal qualities.

Although somewhat slow-growing with a gangly appearance at first, this Chinese native thrives with little maintenance in our Shepherdstown soils (both alkaline and acidic pH conditions). This long-lived tree doesn’t even seem to mind saline conditions, but site only in well drained areas with full sun exposure. Pair ginkgo with understory flowering dogwood trees for complementary warm fall foliage color.

Maturing to over 80 feet in height, ginkgo trees provide splendid shade for parks, college campuses and even your own lawn if sufficient space is available. Autumn Gold Ginkgo is popular, in particular, for its rich buttery fall color. More narrow-shaped cultivars of this tree are better selections for lining streets and sidewalks while providing sufficient screening in urban environments.

Other noteworthy characteristics of this tree species are found online, including Cooperative Extension publications. These publications offer readers guidance for the home cultivation of the ever-magical ginkgo tree.

Kristi Hendricks is a graduate of Shepherd College and West Virginia University and a Master Gardener with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at belowthejames@yahoo.com.