Ginkgo biloba, also called maidenhair, is a broadleaf, deciduous tree. While it loses its leaves in winter, it is classified as a conifer. The gingko biloba's uniquely fan-shaped leaves start out green but change to golden-yellow in autumn. Before the whole leaf turns golden, there is sometimes a stage during which the leaf is two-toned, with separate bands of gold and green. The common name "maidenhair" was inspired by the fan shape of the leaves, which reminds people of the maidenhair fern.