White Ash
Fraxinus americana

Height: 50-80'
Habit: upright oval to open round

Landscape Value:

The attractive fall color, uniform habit, and the ease of propagation and transplanting has resulted in this species being used more in the landscape than any other tree in the eastern United States. It has many potential insect and disease problems, but vigorous trees can do quite well. They reach a great size and are useful for large areas and parks. The versatile fall color is generally outstanding, ranging from yellow-orange to a dark maroon, with many shades between. White ash can tolerate a variety of site conditions because it adapts to soil texture and pH.

Seasonal Characteristics:

• Summer: Compound, dark-green leaves with silvery undersides.
  
  
• Fall: Fall color is usually yellow-orange but can also be purple-maroon. ·Winter: The compound leaves result in the plant appearing much coarser after the leaves have fallen and the stout stems are revealed.

Points of Interest:

Before the "pinging" sound of aluminum, every American child was familiar with the crack made when a white ash baseball bat connected with the ball. White ash and white ash only is the choice for those who make wooden bats. In addition, the light but durable wood is used for a variety of sports equipment including oars, tennis rackets, and hockey sticks. Not as strong or as heavy as hickory, ash wood is not used in the handles of tools such as hammers, but it is ideal for the handles of garden tools. White ash wood has been used for barrel staves, church pews, porch furniture, farm wagons, and airplanes, everywhere that strength and lightness must be combined.

Native Range:

Illinois, Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas.

Link to White Ash