Ginkgo biloba ‘Ben’ is a cultivar selected from seedlings by Josef Hahnl from Austria. Like many other of his cultivars the seedlings were grown from seeds of the old Ginkgo tree cultivated in the Schönbrunn castle in Vienna, Austria (Please see the cultivar named Ginkgo biloba ‘Schönbrunn’). 
 
Josef Hahnl has named four other cultivars; Ginkgo biloba ‘Adam’, Ginkgo biloba ‘Ben’ , Ginkgo biloba ‘Hoss’, Ginkgo biloba ‘Hop sing’ and Ginkgo biloba ‘ Little Joe’. All named after the main characters in the American western television series, the Bonanza (1959-1973). The show is set in the 1860s and it follows the adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons living near Virginia City in Nevada, in The United States of America. ‘Ben was named after the principle character, Ben Cartwright.
 
Description – Ginkgo biloba ‘Ben’ This diploid cultivar differs from the wild form by smaller leaves. It has also finer branches and finer overall structure of branching than the wild Ginkgo. Therefore, it easily forms compact crowns. The growth rate of potted plants is similar to the wild form at the nursery conditions.