The ginkgo, also called maidenhair tree, is easy to identify. It grows up to 75 feet tall and can live for hundreds of years. In the Orient, it is usually planted in temple gardens, also near shrines and castles partly due to its ability to resist fire. During the great 1923 earthquake and fire in Tokyo, many ginkgos survived while other trees did not. To this day, the ginkgo is the symbol of Tokyo and is seen all over the city.
Most ginkgos live as ornamentals because they are picturesque, provide shade and give a bold accent.
In that some varieties may become too large for an average landscape, care must be taken in selecting particular types. These include columnar types and those with finer growth habits, better fall colors, etc. Mostly male trees are planted because female trees produce seeds that fall to the ground and decay. The decaying process gives off an unpleasant odor. The wood of the tree has little economic value as it is soft and weak.