(Known in China as ‘Zhanguan Ginkgo’) Ginkgo biloba 'Horizontalis' There are two conflicting suggestions as to the origins of this plant. One is that it originated from France (but it is not specified exactly where), the other is that it originated from The Lieden Botanic Gardens (Hortus Botanicus) in the Netherlands, planted c.1890. Some sources categorically state that it is female, others male, which points to the inevitable conclusion that there is more than one plant in circulation with the cultivar name ‘Horizontalis’. Opinion tends to lean towards ‘true’ Ginkgo biloba ‘Horizontalis’ having originated from Lieden Botanic Gardens and it being female. A good tree for the small garden. Despite its eventual size 'Horizontalis' can also be grown in a container to good effect, which will slow down its development. 
 
It is worth making the point that the habit of the plants propagated from the original specimen have been unduly by where the material has been taken from the parent plant. When side shoots are used the resulting plants develop with different characteristics, often being laxer in habit without a clearly defined leader, therefore, they do not attain the same dimensions, but are none the less are still very desirable.
 
Description – Ginkgo biloba ‘Horizontalis’ has foliage that is typical to the species, light green in colour. The rate of growth is 20cm a year. It is usually trained upright during the early stages of its life. It then produces an open head with wide spreading branches. In 10 years it would be expected to attain a height of 2m -3m (depending on training) and a spread of 1.5m - 2m. The eventual Height is 5m with a greater spread of 6m - 8m.