Princeton Sentry Ginkgo
The Princeton Sentry Ginkgo, also called Ginkgo Biloba, Witch Hazel ‘Early Bright,’ or Chinese Witch Hazel ‘Early Bright,’ is a shrub plant that is quite well-known among gardeners all over the world. The Princeton Sentry Ginkgo is a member of the Hamamelidaceae family, genus Hamamelis, and species Mollis.
This Princeton Sentry Ginkgo is an ancient species that can grow to a height of 100 feet. It has two-lobed, leathery leaves that are fan-shaped and rich green with diverging (nearly parallel) veins. During the fall, the leaves become a brilliant yellow.
People often call ginkgo trees “maidenhair trees” because their fan-shaped leaves look like the leaflets (pinnae) of maidenhair ferns. Ginkgo trees are dioecious, with distinct male and female trees. In most cases, nurseries only sell male trees because female trees generate seeds that are contained in fleshy, fruit-like cones. When these cones mature in the fall, they are messy and emit a strong, foul odor when they fall to the ground and break apart.
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Pros and Cons
Pros
The distinctively columnar appearance of the Princeton Sentry Ginkgo is the primary reason for the tree’s popularity in landscape design. It possesses emerald-green deciduous leaves. The fan-shaped leaves change to a brilliant yellow in the fall. It’s a simple tree to grow in a wide range of circumstances, including compact soil, clay, and loam. This tree is perfect for limited spaces that need vertical accents or shade in smaller yards. It is utilized in boulevards as mass plantings to produce an elegant, structured appearance. Princeton Sentry Ginkgo looks great on a mixed screen as well.
This Ginkgo tree is frequently referred to as a “living fossil” because of its striking resemblance to ancient fossils that date back millions of years. This tree is widely cultivated and utilized both medicinally and for its culinary properties. This tree is regarded as sacred in several regions of the world.
This tree can withstand nearly any condition. It thrives in poor or compacted soil and can survive a variety of environmental factors, including air pollution, winter salt, and drought. They are well-rooted and wind- and snow-resistant. These trees make wonderful specimens, street trees, and shade trees.
Cons
The Princeton Sentry Ginkgo has no severe pests or issues. It is not sensitive to gypsy moths or verticillium wilt and is resistant to both of those pests.
The Princeton Sentry is a slow-growing tree with a sparse appearance when young. Over time, the structure with the branching becomes filled up. This contributes to its distinct “rick-rack” appearance during the winter.
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Care
This tree thrives in full sun and moderate soil conditions, although it does best in soils that are moist, sandy, and well-drained. Keep the root ball of newly planted trees moist by watering them consistently. This Princeton Sentry Ginkgo is an adaptable tree that thrives in most urban settings. If necessary, prune in the dormant season by eliminating diseased or broken branches.
Ginkgo trees develop slowly and steadily, preferring to endure for many centuries as opposed to growing quickly and going extinct. In ideal conditions, these trees grow approximately 12-14 inches per year, although it can take a few of years for them to get established.
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Problems
This male Ginkgo cultivar is pest-free, storm-resistant, and casts little shade due to its small crown. It grows to approximately 65 feet in height and has a crown that is 15 to 20 feet wide. It is a long-lasting street tree that can be used in areas with restricted vertical overhead space.
In colder temperatures, deciduous plants like maples lose their leaves. The mechanism by which a tree sheds its foliage is quite complicated than one can imagine; these trees’ petioles are the stems of their leaves. Trees are shielded from potential diseases by a layer of defense cells produced by the petioles. This procedure normally takes several weeks as the temperature drops. The petioles of a Ginkgo tree generate this layer of scar-like cells simultaneously, and a harsh frost causes all leaves to drop at once, leaving a magnificent golden carpet around the tree’s base. It is frequently a sure sign that fall has come.
