Photo: Franz van Duns, via Wikimedia Commons License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba L.

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

seeds and their fleshy outer pulp: the pulp juice can irritate skin on contact, and eating the pulp can irritate the lips, mouth and throat and cause stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea (NC State Plant Toolbox)

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

skin irritation or contact dermatitis from the seed pulp, stomach upset

Hazard route

skin and ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Skin contact

NC State says skin irritation is minor or lasts only a few minutes after contact with the juice of the seed pulp. Toxic principle as NC State writes it: an alkyl phenol and ginkgolic acid.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Dogs, cats, horses: no source makes a pet toxicity statement. For people, NC State rates the seeds as a low severity poison; that is human data and is not a pet verdict.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 3a to 9b per NC State Plant Toolbox; USDA 3A through 8A per UF/IFAS
Light: Full sun.
Water needs: low
Mature size: NC State: 50 to 80 ft (15 to 24 m) tall and 30 to 40 ft (9 to 12 m) wide; dwarf and narrow varieties exist (for example 'Autumn Gold' about 45 ft by 25 ft, 'Sky Tower' about 18 ft by 8 ft). UF/IFAS: 50 to 75 ft (15 to 23 m) tall and 50 to 60 ft (15 to 18 m) wide, slow growing; female trees spread wider than males.
Family: Ginkgoaceae (NC State, UF/IFAS)
Where it comes from: NC State: south central and southeast China. UF/IFAS: native to eastern China.