And liquidambars, even though colorful and stately, are supposed to be seedless but seldom are, and those spiny seed pods are a menace on sidewalks. Dating back 200 million years, the ginkgo is graceful, hardy and virtually pest-free. Plus, it becomes a fountain of gold leaves in autumn. Some grow to 80 feet, but most mature specimens top out between 30 and 50 feet. Because their roots are not invasive, they're used as street trees and lawn trees.
Male varieties are much preferred over the females, which set seed that smells like sewage.
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