Fraxinus americana

Common Name
White ash
American ash
Plant Form
Large Trees
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
120.0
Width (ft)
50.0 - 75.0
Growth Rate
Fast
Region
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Photographer: Elizabeth Train
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Photographer: betsylou26
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Additional Info

Habitat: Deciduous tree in the olive family. White ash grows best in rich, moist soils with good drainage but will grow in any type of sun exposure—full sun to shade—and in any soil and pH. Ash trees have male and female flowers on separate trees and only the female flowers develop into fruits

Wildlife value: Supports the larvae of Eastern tiger swallowtail and mourning cloak butterflies. The adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies feed on milkweed, joe pye weed, wild cherry, and lilac. The seeds of the White ash are enjoyed by birds, squirrel, and other small mammals. The bark is eaten by rabbits, porcupines and beavers. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer.

Notes: It usually grows rapidly to 60 to 90 feet tall and 50 to 75 feet wide with a 2 to 3-foot trunk diameter, but it can reach 120 feet in height and is the largest of the native ashes. The juice from leaves relieves the swelling and itching of mosquito bites. Planting new ash trees is no longer recommended due to the trees' susceptibility to the emerald ash borer, a pest that feeds under the bark and bores into the wood

Flower Color
Green
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Spring
Bloom Month
April
May
Fall Color
Burgandy/Red
Gold/Yellow
Purple
Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Shade
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Soil Texture
Clay
High organic matter
Loamy
Sandy
Deer Resitant
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Top 30 for Butterfly and Moth Caterpillars?
Yes
Tolerates
Earth Sangha Inventory

Founded in 1997, the Earth Sangha is a nonprofit public charity based in the Washington, DC, region. The Wild Plant Nursery is the most comprehensive source of local-ecotype, native plants in the Washington DC region, and the region’s only facility dedicated exclusively to this type of propagation. “Local-ecotype” plants are propagated from local, wild, naturally-occurring populations and are well-adapted to local conditions and for wildlife species that depend on the local forms, such as pollinators. Inventory is updated on a weekly basis so number may not be accurate.

Pots Available Plugs Available Location Notes
28 0 Row 9

Reserved for conservation projects

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