Species guide

Ginkgo

Skin irritant

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo
Photo: Annika Lindqvist · CC BY

What does Ginkgo look like?

Unmistakable fan-shaped leaves, often with a notch in the middle, turning bright gold in autumn. Female trees drop fleshy, foul-smelling seeds.

Is Ginkgo dangerous?

The leaves are harmless to touch, but the fleshy seed coat contains compounds that can cause a poison-ivy-like rash, and raw or large amounts of the inner seed are toxic if eaten.

What should I do about Ginkgo?

Wear gloves to clean up fallen seeds, and never eat them raw. Don't decide any plant part is edible from a photo.

Never decide what's safe to eat or touch from a photo or a web page. Identification here is for learning and curiosity only. For anything you might eat, handle or that could harm you or a pet, consult a qualified local expert, and seek medical or veterinary care if exposure has happened.

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