28/10/2025
Ginkgo biloba is a particularly beautiful tree to have in any garden throughout the year, but it is especially striking in autumn, when its fan-shaped leaves turn a brilliant yellow before falling almost all at once into a golden carpet on the ground below. This tree is essentially a living fossil, the sole surviving member of a lineage that dates back over 200 million years.
In China, ginkgo has long been used in both food and traditional medicine, and it is revered as a symbol of longevity and resilience. Across East Asia - in Shintoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism - the ginkgo tree is considered sacred and is often planted around temples and monasteries.
Remarkably, several ginkgo trees survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, making the species a powerful symbol of peace, hope, and endurance for the Japanese people.
As a herbal medicine, ginkgo has been shown to support circulation and cognitive function, and to help reduce anxiety thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Other potential benefits include promoting eye health and alleviating premenstrual symptoms.
