Ginkgo is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
3-8
pH Range
3.7-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Ginkgo on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether ginkgo actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score ginkgo against your land's real conditions.
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What Ginkgo is
Ginkgo grows as a perennial and reaches around 80 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Ginkgo
Ginkgo grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Ginkgo does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 3.7 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days and about 800 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
3.7 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
80 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
800+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
150+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set ginkgo in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Ginkgo prefers pH 3.7 to 8 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — ginkgo isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Ginkgo isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Ginkgo thrives
Ginkgo is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–8·Where Ginkgo growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Ginkgo can grow in these states:
See if Ginkgo will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether ginkgo actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Ginkgo in my zone?
Ginkgo grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Ginkgo?
Set ginkgo out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Ginkgo need?
Ginkgo needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Ginkgo need?
Ginkgo prefers soil pH 3.7 to 8, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Ginkgo attract pollinators?
Ginkgo isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Ginkgo safe for pets?
Ginkgo is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)