Lower Risk

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree)

( Ginkgo biloba f. aurea )

This ancient long-lived tree is native to China. The species is often considered extinct in the wild (and only known from cultivated plants). However, Ginkgo is reported to occur naturally in Tianmu Mountain, in China’s Zhejiang province. The plant has been in the ornamental trade in Australia since 1848 and has not naturalised. Ginkgo has been widely cultivated in Japan and South Korea and may have naturalised in both countries. There is no evidence the species is invasive anywhere in the world. Reproduction is mainly via seed. The seeds have a fleshy coat, which encourages dispersal by birds and other animals. Vegetative spread may also occur. The plant has a lignotuber (known as “basal chichi”) and may also produce new roots and shoots from buds along the trunk after stress (known as “aerial chichi”). The seeds may be toxic (particularly for children) if eaten raw. Oils within the seed coat may also cause dermatitis.