銀白色的種子形狀像杏仁而得名，也就是養生食材「白果」，因為扇形葉片的形狀，在中國古代也稱為鴨掌樹。夏季葉片青翠輕盈，秋冬季黃化後落葉，在溫帶地區葉色換轉為金黃，非常具有觀賞價值。生長緩慢，從播種到開花最快要近30年，幾乎歷經祖孫三代，所以也叫公孫樹。性狀非常原始，化石可以追溯到2.7億年前，是植物界的活化石。

Ginkgo produces silver seeds like almond hence the Chinese name. The seeds are known as healthy ingredient “Baiguo”. Because of the fan-shaped leaves, they were also named duck palm trees in ancient China. In summer, the leaves are green and lithe and fall after yellowing in autumn and winter. In temperate regions, the leaf color turns golden, which is highly ornamental. The slow grower takes nearly 30 years from seeding to flowering, and the duration is almost gone through three generations, so it is also nicknamed Grandparent tree. The shape and properties of the plant are very primitive and the fossils of it can be traced back to 270 million years ago, therefore, it is regarded as living fossils in the plant kingdom.

銀杏屬落葉喬木，原產中國浙江省。樹冠圓錐形。葉簇生或螺旋狀散生，扇形；秋冬季黃化後落葉。雌雄異株，雄花葇荑花序。外種皮成熟時黃色有白粉，有特異臭味；中種皮白色，為食材「白果」。開花期春季，種子成熟於秋季。

A deciduous tree in the genus Ginkgo, native to Zhejiang Province, China. Tree canopy conical. Leaves clustered or spirally scattered, fan-shaped; leaves fall after turning yellowing in autumn and winter. Dioecious, male flowering catkin. The testa turns yellow with white powder, and has a peculiar smell when mature; the white nut-like gametophytes inside the sarcotesta are known as Chinese food ingredient "baiguo". Flowering in spring and seed mature in autumn.

適合全日照冷涼環境，土壤適應性強，但根系深，基地土壤要深厚，排水要好。落葉期修剪樹冠過密的不良枝。春至秋季每季施用一次長效性肥料。繁殖採用播種法。

The plant grows well in full sun and cold environment and adapts to a variety of soil. Owing to the deep root system, it needs deepened soil and good drainage. Trim off weak branches in the canopy during deciduous period. Apply long-active fertilizer once a season from spring to autumn. Reproduced by seeds.

生長迅速、適應性強。樹形優美，夏季葉色嫩綠，秋冬季黃色非常美觀，是優良的行道樹與庭園木。木材淡黃色，材質輕軟，可作為建材與製作家具、工藝品。種子供食用與藥用，但具輕毒不可多食。葉片可製保健食品與殺蟲劑。

Ginkko is an adaptable and fast-growing tree. Prized for the elegant tree shape and stunning foliage color changes across seasons, the plants are common street trees and ornamental trees in garden. The pale-yellow wood is light and soft, as well as an excellent material for construction, making furniture and crafts. Seeds are used as food or medicinal ingredient, but over dosage is not advised because they have minor toxicity. The leaves can be used to produce health food and pesticides.