For four decades, employees at Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in Nova Scotia believed their ginkgo tree was male. However, they were in for a surprise earlier this year when they discovered the tree was actually female, producing a pungent odor from its fruit-like seeds.
Trish Fry, the garden manager, described the smell as unpleasant, comparing it to dog feces, rancid butter, or vomit. The presence of the seeds this year marked the first time they had appeared since the tree was planted in the early 1980s. Initially dismissing the idea that the ginkgo was responsible, staff eventually confirmed its female nature after a visitor pointed out the seeds.
Ashlea Viola, the gardens’ horticulturist, explained that ginkgo trees can take many years to reach full maturity. Despite the surprise, Viola noted that mistakenly planting female ginkgo trees is not uncommon, as seen in a case where a Montreal resident requested the replacement of a female ginkgo tree on his property due to the smelly seeds it produced.
The ginkgo tree is prized for its vibrant leaves, which transition from green to bright yellow in autumn before falling simultaneously, creating a colorful carpet on the ground. Known for their beauty and resilience, ginkgos are considered living fossils and are the last surviving species of their kind, outlasting even the dinosaurs.
Despite the unpleasant smell from the female tree’s seeds, the garden manager confirmed that there are no intentions to remove it. Fry noted that the seeds do not fall during the peak tourism season but advised visitors to be prepared for the distinctive aroma when visiting afterward.