Raywood Ash Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’
- Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa 'Raywood'
- Phonetic Spelling
- FRAKS-i-nus oks-i-KAR-pa
- Description
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Raywood ash is a broadleaf deciduous tree cultivar in the Oleaceae (olive) family and is native to Asia and Europe. The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall but generally is 40-50 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide. It matures to an oval crown and is deer and drought tolerant once established. This tree is reported to produce male flowers only so no fruits are produced to be cleaned up. However, some trees have produced female flowers and fruits. This tree is reportedly resistant to anthracnose foliage disease and Ash Lygus bug which attacks other Ashes. The fall color is a nice purple.
Raywood ash needs full sun and prefers well-drained soils. Use as a shade tree for the yard or as a street tree. It is not too picky about soils types or pH.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No pests or diseases are of major concern, although possibly borers. The tree is prone to toppling and can be hard to establish.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon 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:
- oxycarpa
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Usually doesn't produce fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant male flowers in spring. Rarely produces female flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The pinnately compound leaves have 7-9 leaflets that are 2-4 inches long and elliptic to lanceolate in shape. Margins are serrated. The leaves are oppositely arranged and may have whorls of 3-4 leaves at the ends of branches. Fall color is purplish.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Light gray bark that starts out smooth and becomes more rough 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 brown to gray
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
