Fraxinus americana

white ash, american ash
Family

Oleaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Type

compound

Growth Form

shrub, tree

Flower Color

green, purple, yellow

Flower Month

February - October

Height (meters)

20.0 - 40.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Leaf Retention

Deciduous


Wetland Class

FACU

Field Characters

Leaflets silvery below. Leaves smooth with 5, 7, or 9 leaflets. Deep U-shaped leaf scar is different than F. caroliniana.

Habitat

Rich upland or lowland wet woods, drained stream banks, pastures.

Plant Uses

White ash wood is heavy, hard, strong, stiff, has good shock resistance and excellent bending qualities. It holds screws and nails moderately well, but has a tendency to split. White ash lumber kiln-dries satisfactorily and holds its shape well after seasoning, but has low resistance to decay. The wood stays smooth under constant rubbing. White ash is sometimes confused with hickory, but the two woods are quite easily distinguished. The summerwood (darker) zone in ash has white dots or lines that can be seen with the naked eye; hickory also has these dots or lines in the summerwood, but they are not visible without magnification. Much white ash wood is used for handles. It is the standard wood for D-handles for shovels and spades, and for the long handles for forks, hoes, rakes, and shovels. It is used in furniture, especially in the bent parts of chairs. It is used for slack cooperage and many types of sporting equipment including oars and bats.