Black ash Fraxinus nigra
- Phonetic Spelling
- FRAK-si-nus NY-gra
- Description
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Black ash is a medium-sized dioecious tree in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States from western Newfoundland to northern VA and east to Indiana and North Dakota. The specific epithet is Latin for “black.” The nearly black stem buds and inner bark give it the common name of black ash.
Black ash grows in peat and muck soils but also tolerates sandy loams along waterways. It tolerates sun to part shade and acidic to alkaline soils.
Black ash typically grows in bogs, along streams, or in poorly drained areas that often are seasonally flooded. It can reach 50 to 65 feet tall, with an open pyramidal crown. Unfortunately, the species has been devastated by the eastern ash borer since 2014 throughout its native range. Black Ash wood is highly flexible and readily separates into thin strips, making it useful in applications requiring bending. It has been used for barrel hoops, chair seats, canoe ribs, and basket making.
It could be used as a shade tree if given the right conditions.
Potential disease, insect, and other problems: See potential insect and disease problem factsheets to the left
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- 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:
- nigra
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in basket making. Also to make electric guitars and basses due to its good resonant qualities.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern Canada, North Central and North Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- CT , DC , DE , IA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
- Wildlife Value:
- Falling leaves provide food to tadpoles. It also provides a home to the long-horned beetle, birds and mammals. Butterfly and moth larvae also feed on the leaves.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a samara with one wing and 1 seed dispursed by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The tree is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. The female flowers occur in loose panicles. The male flowers occur in tighter dense clusters. Flowering occurs in spring before leaf-out.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The odd pinnately green compound leaves have 7-11 leaflets that are 3-5 by 1-2 inches. Shape is oblong to oblong-lance. Margins are serrated and the undersides are lighter green with some hairs. Only the terminal leaflet is stalked.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray-brown with blocky furrow on mature trees. The inner bark is nearly black
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Stout, light brown to gray twigs with opposite buds that are nearly black.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Frogs
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
