American Ash
Fraxinus americana · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Oleaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9
About This Tree
A large, stately forest tree with a tall, straight trunk and a dense, oval to rounded crown. Known for its strong wood and significant role in North American forests.
Leaf Characteristics
Opposite, pinnately compound leaves typically 8-12 inches long with 7 leaflets (occasionally 5 or 9). Leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, dark green above and lighter/whitish beneath, turning yellow, deep purple, or maroon in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Ash-gray in color with a distinctive diamond-shaped pattern of interlacing corky ridges and deep furrows on mature trees. The wood beneath is light-colored and straight-grained.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern and Central North America
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (among the last to do so), flowers before leaves appear in April-May, enters dormancy in mid-autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun; requires moist, well-drained soils but is adaptable to various conditions. Moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Reaches 50-80 feet in height with a spread of 40-50 feet. Moderate growth rate; can live 100-200 years in ideal conditions.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for tool handles, baseball bats, and furniture due to shock resistance. Currently under severe threat by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in many regions.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides seeds (samaras) for birds like wood ducks, finches, and cardinals, as well as rodents. Larval host for several moths including the Sphinx moth.