White Ash
Fraxinus americana · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Oleaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None specified; wild-type species identifiable by bark texture and wood grain
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9
About This Tree
A large, stately forest tree typically featuring a straight, clear trunk and a pyramidal crown when young, maturing into a rounded or oval canopy. Known for its strong, elastic wood and rapid growth in fertile soils.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound, usually 5-9 leaflets; opposite arrangement; leaflets are ovate to lanceolate with mostly smooth or finely serrated margins; dark green above, lighter green/whitish beneath.
Bark Characteristics
Greyish-brown with a distinctive 'diamond-patterned' texture formed by deep, interlacing furrows and ridges; texture becomes more pronounced and corky with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and Central North America
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (among the last to leaf out); flowers in April to May; enters dormancy in mid-autumn after a purple/gold color shift.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate water needs; prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils but can tolerate moderate drought once established.
Mature Size
Mature height of 50-80 feet; spread of 40-50 feet; moderate to fast growth rate; can live up to 200 years.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high timber value (used for baseball bats, tool handles, and flooring) due to its shock resistance; high vulnerability to the Emerald Ash Borer beetle; exceptional purple-bronze fall foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides seeds (samaras) for birds (finches, grosbeaks) and small mammals; larval host for several sphinx moth species; often forms a major component of the hardwood forest canopy.