Florida Ash Fraxinus caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FRAK-si-nus kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Fraxinus caroliniana, or Carolina Water Ash, is a rather small, long-lived deciduous tree or shrub that is native to the southeastern US, often enlarged at the base and leaning, with a rounded or narrow crown. It grows only in the deeper swamps and along river bottoms of the Carolina coastal plains and Piedmont areas, although some specimens have been found in Wake and Anson counties. Typically, the tree grows to 25 feet tall with a diameter of 6 to 8 inches. 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.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), a very destructive wood-boring beetle native to Asia. It was discovered in North America in July 2002, and has become established in Michigan, New York, Ohio and Ontario (Canada). Millions of ash trees have been killed in the northeastern US.
- 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
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood of this tree is light and soft and is not used commercially.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States to Cuba
- Distribution:
- Throughout the southeaster states. North Carolina coastal plain and Piedmont.
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail. It is an important forage plant for deer and seeds are eaten by waterfowl, which also use it for roosting.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- 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
- Purple/Lavender
- 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 violet wings hang well below the seed portion and there can be 2 to 3 wings. Matures from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Green to purplish flowers are dioecious and appear in spring in clusters before the leaves. Male flowers are in a dense mass while female flowers are a more open cluster or panicle. They bloom in May. Similar to those of other ash species.
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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
- Oblong
- 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 7 to 12 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. Overall feel is thick 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
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
