Jade Butterfly Ginkgo is a dwarf cultivar of Ginkgo biloba, a species with fossil records stretching back 270 million years and the sole surviving member of its ancient order. The cultivar takes its name from its deeply notched, fan-shaped leaves that closely resemble butterfly wings. Its compact stature - typically 10–15 feet tall - makes it a practical specimen for small gardens and urban lots where the full-size species is not viable.
Slow-growing at roughly 4–6 inches per year, this cultivar is long-lived and highly adaptable to urban conditions including air pollution and compacted soils. Full sun and well-drained soil are the primary requirements; prolonged standing water is the main threat. Fall foliage turns a uniform, vivid gold and typically drops in a short concentrated window - sometimes within a single day. 'Jade Butterfly' is propagated as a male clone, so it produces no seeds and none of the malodorous fruit associated with female ginkgo trees.
Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts are among the most extensively studied botanical supplements worldwide, with documented traditional use in Chinese medicine and ongoing clinical research into peripheral circulation, tinnitus, altitude sickness, and cognitive support.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.