Wood: The
wood is of little value due to its scarcity. It is lightweight, brittle,
yellow and, in China and Japan, is used for chess sets, chopping blocks
and firewood. The leaves are harvested for uses as a blood thinner and to
treat circulatory illnesses. Over a million trees are reportedly grown in
one South Carolina location for commercial export of the leaves to Europe.
Horticulture: Although a slow-grower in the Midwest, the ginkgo is a handsome, adaptable, hardy tree for use in Iowa as a specimen or in groups. It transplants well, establishes easily and is often planted in parks, arboreta and botanical gardens as a point of interest. Male cultivars are preferable, as not only is the odor of the fallen seeds unpleasant, but the abundant crops can also be very messy. Cultivars include 'Fastigiata,' a male form with an upright, columnar habit; 'Fairmont,' a narrow, pyramidal male form; and 'Shangri-la,' a fast-growing form with a compact crown and good fall color.
