Bonsai - Ginkgo biloba

The ginkgo has been around for roughly 200 million years. It outlived the dinosaurs, and it's one of the few trees left with no close living relatives. As a bonsai it keeps everything that makes the full-sized tree special: fan-shaped leaves, an upright flame-like form, and an autumn colour change that has to be seen to be believed.

Through spring and summer the leaves are soft green. In autumn they turn butter yellow, often all at once, then drop within days and leave a clean winter silhouette. It's a tree that marks the seasons, and part of the pleasure is watching it happen on your own table or balcony.

Ginkgos are tough, slow-growing and largely pest-free, which makes them a good choice if you're new to bonsai and want something forgiving. They're also deciduous and need a cold winter rest, so this is an outdoor tree. It's happiest in morning sun with some shelter from harsh Melbourne afternoons in summer.

• Approx. tree height: 29cm
• Pot dimensions: 15cm (L) x 11cm (W) x 7cm (H)

Care at a glance

• Position: Outdoors. Bright light, morning sun, afternoon shade in high summer. It's frost hardy and needs winter cold to rest.
• Watering: Water thoroughly when the top of the soil starts to dry. Don't let it dry out completely, especially in summer heat. Water less once the leaves drop.
• Feeding: Feed lightly from spring through to early autumn. Stop over winter.
• Pruning: Trim new shoots back to two or three leaves during the growing season. Do structural pruning in late winter, before the buds swell. Ginkgos don't readily bud back from old wood, so cut with care.
• Wiring: Use a light touch. Most ginkgos look best grown upright and natural rather than heavily shaped.
• Repotting: Every two to three years in early spring, using a free-draining bonsai mix.

For the full guide, including what to expect when the leaves drop in autumn, see our Ginkgo Bonsai Care Guide.