Florida Ash Fraxinus caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FRAK-si-nus kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Water Ash, is a long-lived deciduous tree that is native to the southeastern US. It is found in low wetlands in the coastal plains and Piedmont areas. The wood of this tree is soft and is not used commercially. It does not tolerate salt spray or brackish waters. In nature it is an understory tree in moist to wet, shady sites with acidic soil.
The leaves are interesting, fairly large and pinnately compound. The winged seed pods hang in groups and add additional interest.
Use it in wet areas of the yard or where there is frequent standing water, pond margins, boggy areas or low-lying sites.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fraxinus
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S.E. U.SA. to Cuba, NC
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail. It is an important forage plant for deer and seeds are eaten by waterfowl.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flattened broad-wing samaras are 1 1/2 to 2 inches long and 1/2- 3/4 inches wide. The wings hang well below the seed portion and there can be 2-3 wings. Matures from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Green to purplish flowers are dioecious and appear in spring in clusters. They bloom in May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The pinnately compound leaves have 5 to 9 leaflets and are 5-10 inches long. Leaflets are 2 to 4 inches long and 2 inches across with a usually serrated margin but sometimes entire. Upperside is dark green and the underside is paler and smooth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Scaly bark, gray to slightly orange-brown, sometimes splotchy. Irregular scaly ridges develop with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are smooth but sometimes fuzzy, gray-brown, with oval leaf scars.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
