Golden Colonnade Ginkgo | Columnar Maidenhair Tree with Fall Color

Golden Colonnade Ginkgo

15 Gallon

$189.00

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Golden Colonnade Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba 'Golden Colonnade'

A narrow, fruitless male Ginkgo with spectacular golden fall color and urban toughness.

$189.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

The Golden Colonnade Ginkgo is a meticulously selected male cultivar of the ancient, revered maidenhair tree, prized for its narrow, upright habit and spectacular golden-yellow autumn foliage. Its unique columnar to oval form provides strong vertical structure without the broad spread of a standard Ginkgo, making it ideal for space-conscious landscapes. The distinctive, fan-shaped leaves emerge a pleasing medium green in spring and summer, then transform in unison to a brilliant, uniform golden-yellow in fall, creating a luminous display. As a male clone, it produces no messy, foul-smelling fruit. Exceptionally tough, pest-free, and long-lived, this tree offers the timeless beauty and resilience of Ginkgo in a refined, urban-friendly package.

Narrow, Columnar Form: Selected specifically for its tight, upright growth habit, 'Golden Colonnade' develops a symmetrical, narrowly oval to columnar crown. This space-efficient architecture allows it to be planted where a standard Ginkgo's broad spread (50-60 ft) would be impossible, such as along narrow streets, in small parking lot islands, and close to buildings.

Spectacular, Uniform Golden Fall Color: The fan-shaped leaves of this cultivar perform a flawless autumn transformation, changing simultaneously from summer green to a pure, vibrant, uniform golden-yellow. The canopy becomes a glowing mass of color, often holding its leaves well before a dramatic, single-day drop.

Clean, Fruitless Male Selection: As a male clone, 'JFS-UGA2' produces no pollen and, crucially, no messy, fleshy, foul-smelling fruit (the "ginkgo nuts" produced by female trees). This eliminates the primary drawback of Ginkgo in public and residential landscapes, making it an impeccably clean choice.

Living Fossil with Unmatched Resilience: Ginkgo biloba is the sole surviving species of an ancient plant lineage dating back 270 million years. This genetic heritage imbues it with phenomenal resistance to pests, diseases, air pollution, and storm damage. It is one of the toughest, most trouble-free trees available.

Slow-Growing, Long-Lived Investment: Its slow growth rate (eventually reaching 40-50 feet over many decades) means it requires little to no pruning to maintain its shape and will not quickly outgrow its space. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal care for generations.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Foliage & Flowers: Distinctive, fan-shaped, bilobed leaves with long petioles; emerge medium green, turn brilliant, uniform golden-yellow in fall; male clone produces no fruit (inconspicuous spring flowers)
Mature Height: 40-50 ft
Mature Spread: 25-30 ft
Growth Rate: Slow
Hardiness Zones: USDA 3-8; Sunset A3, 1-10, 12, 14-24
Light Requirement: Full sun
Key Benefits: Narrow upright form, spectacular golden fall color, fruitless (male), extremely pest and disease resistant, drought tolerant, storm resistant, deer resistant
Best Uses: Street tree, narrow spaces, urban landscapes, avenue planting, specimen tree, parks, golf courses, foundation planting for large buildings

Q: How is 'Golden Colonnade' different from the species Ginkgo biloba?
A: The species Ginkgo grows into a very large, broad, spreading tree (often 50-80 ft wide at maturity). 'Golden Colonnade' is a cultivar selected specifically for its narrow, upright, columnar to oval form (25-30 ft wide). This makes it suitable for landscapes where a standard Ginkgo would be too wide. It is also a male clone, guaranteeing a fruitless tree.

Q: Is it really fruitless? How can I be sure?
A: Yes, absolutely. 'Golden Colonnade' (JFS-UGA2) is a male selection propagated vegetatively. All trees of this cultivar are genetically male and will never produce the messy, foul-smelling fruit (seeds) that make female Ginkgo trees undesirable near walkways and patios. This is one of its primary landscape advantages.

Q: How fast does it grow?
A: Ginkgo biloba is famously slow-growing, especially in its first decade. 'Golden Colonnade' will grow at a slow to moderate rate, typically adding 6-12 inches per year. Patience is required, but its eventual form and longevity make it a worthwhile investment for future generations.

Q: What are its ideal growing conditions?
A: It thrives in full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and well-drained soil. Once established (2-3 years), it is remarkably drought-tolerant. It adapts to a wide range of soil types, including clay, sand, and urban compacted soils, and tolerates air pollution exceptionally well. It is hardy in USDA zones 3-8, enduring both cold winters and hot summers.