White Ash

Fraxinus americana

Text Box: Tree form: Large tree 15-24m tall. Straight trunk that is free of branches, often for several meters . Crown looks like pyramid of thin branches, may appear sparse.  

 

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Text Box: Fruit: Single samaras in large clusters, have large seed cavity as compared to other ashes. May or may not persist on tree until winter.

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Text Box: Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound. Usually 7-9 leaflets, Ovate to lanceolate.Entire to slightly serrated and relatively thick.Dark green, glabrous,turning purple or pale yellow in autumn. Leaf scar resembles a ‘smiley face’.      

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Text Box: Flower: Flowers appear in May before leaves. Lack petals. Borne in panicles (loose clusters)

 

Text Box: Twig: Gray, glabrous.Epidermis sometimes flaking or peeling. Knobby, raised leaf scars. Terminal bud is brown, large, and pointed.  

 

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Text Box: Bark: Brown to dark gray, furrowed.May be scaly in older trees. Distinct diamond-shaped pattern formed by interlacing corky ridges.  

 

 Text Box: Other: Shade-intolerant, prefers poorly drained sites eg. floodplains. Commonly used in landscaping. Trees tend to become more glabrous the further they are to the south. Easily confused with the red or green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). However the red (green) ash has a more horizontal leaf scar, a fuller crown, and may have pubescent twigs, leaflets, and petioles.

 

 

 

 

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