The Maidenhair tree is one of the world's great survivors with fossil records from prehistoric times showing fossilised leaves remarkably similar to the present day Ginkgo.

Trees close to the site of the atom bomb blast at Hiroshima are still growing today, indeed it has been proven some of the oldest trees alive today are in excess of 3000 years old.

Darwin descibed the Ginkgo as a 'living fossil' in his historic book 'Origin of Species' back in 1859.

Ginkgos have been long associated with medicine; a fact recognised centuries ago in China where its crushed leaves and bark were and still are used to treat many ailments. More recently Ginkgo products have been used to treat cancer patients.

Ginkgos offer a great opportunity to the gardener, most unusually they suffer from few if any pests and diseases, they show extreme tolerance of pollution and a great resistance to adverse conditions. These extraordinary plants are fully hardy in the U.K., even when grown in containers where they can make fabulous specimens.

If this wasn't enough there are many cultivars offering a myriad of differing growth habits. At Big Plant Nursery we have teamed up with expert propagator and grafter Ian Fitzroy to help bring to the market a wonderful selection of these fascinating plants.

A stunning vigorous Ginkgo which develops into a medium sized specimen which when young can produce shoots up to one metre long clothed in delicate butterfly-like leaves. As the name suggests the leaves turn a rich gold colour in autumn and remain on the branches longer than most other Ginkgos.

This rare form is peculiar by being a very compact shrub-like plant but with slightly larger leaves than the species creating a very ornamental effect.

A rare dwarf Ginkgo which forms a choice rounded multi-stemmed shrub making it a fabulous container plant for the connoisseur.

The name 'Chi Chi' roughly translates to 'breast' the name given to protrusions which can form on the stems from which leaves can sprout hence this plant is sometimes called 'Tit'!

An incredibly fastigate Gingko makes a very architectural formal looking specimen. Has a tendency for rapid growth when young developing quite quickly into a fine specimen.

Perfect where space is limited and an upright tree is required

A very unusual shrubby Ginkgo produces lots of thin twiggy growth that is adorned by two different types of leaves. On mature stems the leaves are fused, hence 'Tubifolia' whereas younger stems produce regular Ginkgo leaves but with a jagged outline.