I would remove the suckers ASAP if I was planning on keeping the original cultivar (scion). The fact that it's suckering is probably indicative of something going on (possibly root damage at some point, possibly grafting compatibility issues, possibly something else). If the scion is now leafing out well and there are no signs of problems there, I wouldn't worry too much about the suckers, other than to remove them at my earliest convenience. Letting them grow will make removing them later much more difficult, encourage re-suckering once the original suckers are removed, and increase the possibility of graft failure. Given the fact that the scion seems to be growing rapidly now, careful attention to present and future suckers should reduce the potential for problems.

The species suckers normally in its native range (or naturalized) in China. Many old trees there have many stems that originated that way. Of course, if it is a cultivar, Brandon is right that you need to remove these. Otherwise, you might want a multi stemmed ginkgo?

Thanks Salicaceae - that is interesting. I have about a dozen cultivars, none of which have ever suckered and this species tree (which has been in for about 15 years) suckers every year, although not horrifically. I always wondered about that.

Sara

Ginkgos sucker "normally" when stressed or after an injury. Dormant buds (basal chichi) are triggered in response to such a catalyst in order to protect the tree's existence.

I also have an Autumn Gold Gingko and it too suckers. The second year it was in the ground it grew leaves but had no stem growth. When the suckers come out I just yank them out of the ground. Mine also grows new branches on the trunk below the first branch, which is about shoulder height. The tree is really healthy and the soil hasn't been touched since it was planted so I doubt there are any damage issues.

Mine hasn't had any damage, either. It's in terrible soil (adobe clay) but has good color, leaves are normal sized, etc. Only complaint I might make is that it is perhaps a bit slower than it should be, but since they're slow maybe that's not even correct. It just suckers gently every year. It has a stand of crabapples nearby and they sucker about 100x more than it does.

If it is indeed grafted, the scion is grafted to a seedling which may be male or female - and although many, many years will go by before it might produce female blooms a multi-stemmed ginkgo could become a multi-stink ginkgo!

hortster