Ginkgo biloba is the only living tree species that shared the planet with dinosaurs. The fossil record shows they’ve been around for 200 million years, and there’s something prehistoric-looking about their flat, fan-shaped leaves. They unfurl a bright green color in spring, stay green all summer, and then in fall turn the most brilliant gold. Every leaf on the tree changes to exactly the same color, and they all drop within a few weeks of each other, giving the impression of a shower of gold. 

Tough and disease resistant, these make great street trees; in fact, they’re the most commonly planted street tree in San Francisco over the past decade. Just give them a decent start and a deep monthly soaking during dry weather, and they’ll be around for the great-grandkids to admire.