Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold'
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' (Ginkgo biloba) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 40–70 ft tall and 25–40 ft wide, slow-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Plant male cultivar; slow to establish.
medium water40–70 ft tall and 25–40 ft wideDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended for Most Sites
- Botanical name
- Ginkgo biloba
- Variety / cultivar
- Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold'
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 40–70 ft tall and 25–40 ft wide
- Mature form
- Irregular / open
- Spacing / clearance
- ~40 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
- Fall color
- Gold
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Pollinator value
- low
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: TransplantsIt resents being moved, so start with smaller stock, plant in spring, and get the spot right the first time.
- Watch: Leaf ScorchIts leaf edges brown in hot, dry wind, so give it steady summer water and some shelter from the worst afternoon blast.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Common problems on the Front Range
No major pest or disease problems are commonly reported for this plant on the Front Range. Keep it well sited and watered, and watch for the usual stress-driven issues in drought or heat.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' get?
- It matures to about 40–70 ft tall and 25–40 ft wide.
- How much room does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' need?
- Give Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' about 40 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' grow into?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' typically grows into an irregular, picturesque outline that varies from plant to plant. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' hardy on the Front Range?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' grow?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' live?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' turn in fall?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' turns gold in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' deer-resistant?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' a good firewise plant near the house?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold' has no major pest or disease problems commonly reported on the Front Range. Keep it well sited and watered, and watch for stress-driven issues in drought or heat.