Fraxinus americana

Fraxinus americana, or White Ash, is a deciduous tree, native to North Carolina and found throughout the state except for the lower coastal region (it does not tolerate exposure to salt air). It usually grows to 60 to 90 feet tall with a 2 to 3 foot trunk diameter, but it can reach 120 feet tall and is the largest of the native ashes. The White Ash grows best in the rich moist soils of mountain coves or river bottom lands. In the eastern part of the state, White Ash can typically be found with swamp chestnut, willow, cherrybark oak, loblolly pine, and sweet gum. In the west, it is more likely to be found among yellow poplar, black cherry, basswood, and oak. It can also extend into the beech-birch-maple forests at 4000 to 5000 foot elevations.

In open areas, the White Ash crown is ovoid, in forested areas the crown is more narrow and pyramidal. The leaves are opposite and pinnately compound with 5 to 9 (mostly 7) leaflets. The bark is yellow-brown to light gray and corky with deep furrows that separate short, pointed ridges. Small, light green to purple flowers, with no petals, mature in loose panicles in the spring. The tree produces a one-winged, dry, flattened samara with a full, rounded, seed cavity that matures in the fall.

Ash trees have male and female flowers on separate trees and only the female flowers develop into fruits. Purchasing male trees will prevent you from having to deal with the fruits which can be a bit of a nuisance near a walkway. It is worth considering planting female ash trees though, because the fruits are born in clusters among the foliage and add a sophisticated note of unusual dimension to the trees in late summer. The cultivars of White Ash are generally much more desirable than seedling trees and are well worth seeking out. White ash tends to be easily transplanted and established.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Pest Problems:  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. Emerald ash borer will will typically kill an ash tree within 3 to 5 years after infestation and, once infestation occurs, it is difficult to eradicate. Other potential problems are ash borer, lilac borer, carpenter worm, oyster shell scale, leaf miners, fall webworms, ash sawflies and ash leaf curl aphid.  Potential disease problems include fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, cankers and ash yellows.  General ash decline is also a concern.  Brittle branches are susceptible to damage from high winds, snow and ice.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.