This Ginkgo Biloba tree, known as the Hubbard Ginkgo, has been growing for more than 123 years. It was planted in Tyler in 1889, and it is on the Famous Trees of Texas Registry maintained by the Texas Forest Service.
The Hubbard Ginkgo, as it has been named by the forest service, arrived in Texas in the late 1880s - brought here from Japan by Governor Richard Bennett Hubbard. Hubbard planted one of the trees on the lawn of the governor's mansion in Austin. This tree was given to his dear friend, Col. John Brown, whose home once occupied this place where city hall now stands.
These facts are recorded on the Texas Forest Service website:
The Ginkgo is a living fossil—the only living member of the Ginkgoaceae family of plants, which otherwise became extinct in early geological times.
The tree, which is considered sacred in Japan, was introduced from China by Buddhist priests and was planted around their temples. The beautiful Hubbard Ginkgo is a male tree and produces no fruit. It is about 65 feet tall and, except for a large scar on one side, caused by a strike of lightning years ago, appears to be in good health.
CONGRATS to mdpii for grabbing FTF!