Fastigiate Maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba 'Fastigiata')
GPS Coordinates: 40.02649, -75.312791
Said to have inhabited earth up to 150 million years ago, the Fastigiate Maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba 'Fastigiata') is the only surviving group of the ancient plants. It is a good urban tree due to its ability to tolerate drought, heat, and poor soils. It grows very slowly at first, but then grows at a moderate rate, especially when supplied adequate amounts of water and fertilizer. As deciduous conifers, Fastigiate Maidenhair trees grow between 30 and 50 feet in height and have very distinct leaves shaped like fans with diverging veins. There are both female and male Fastigiate Maidenhair trees. The female trees are highly undesired in the fall season because it produces a foul odor when the seeds and leaves fall, while the male trees bear golden, yellow leaves in the fall that create admirable scenery. The seeds and leaves are used in medicine throughout the world.