Family: Oleaceae
Author: Marshall
Bibliography: Arbust. Amer.: 51 (1785)
Year: 1785
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Fraxinus
Vegetable: False
Observations: C. & E. Canada to WC. & E. U.S.A.
Description
The Green Ash, known scientifically as Fraxinus pennsylvanica, is a hardy and robust tree that is primarily indigenous to Central and Eastern Canada, extending its reach to the Western and Eastern regions of the United States. This notable species belongs to the Oleaceae family, drawing attention for its versatility and resilience in various North American climates.
First documented in “Arbust. Amer.: 51” in the year 1785 by Marshall, the Green Ash has since been recognized for its significant contribution to the landscape’s ecological and aesthetic value. The tree is characterized by its medium to large size, reaching heights of up to 75 feet, with a canopy that spreads equally wide, providing ample shade. Its bark is greyish-brown, displaying a network of furrows and ridges that add to its rugged charm.
The Green Ash thrives in a variety of soil types, making it a popular choice for urban and rural settings alike. It is especially noted for its adaptability to wet soils, often found near riverbanks and marshes, which contributes to its widespread distribution across the North American continent.
The leaves of the Green Ash are pinnately compound, typically consisting of seven to nine leaflets. These glossy green leaves turn a striking yellow in the fall, providing a spectacular display of autumnal color. In spring, the tree produces small, inconspicuous flowers, followed by the development of winged seeds, or samaras, which mature by late summer.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, offering habitat and food for various wildlife species. Birds and small mammals often utilize the tree for nesting, while its seeds serve as a food source during the fall and winter months.
Despite its resilience, the Green Ash faces threats from pests, particularly the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive beetle that has caused significant damage to ash populations across North America. Efforts to manage and control the spread of this pest are ongoing, with research focused on both chemical treatments and biological controls.
In horticulture and landscaping, the Green Ash is valued for its robustness and adaptability, making it a favored choice for urban forestry and reforestation projects. Its ability to endure different environmental conditions and its relatively fast growth rate contribute to its popularity as a shade and street tree.
In summary, the Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is a remarkable and versatile tree with widespread habitat across Central and Eastern Canada and the United States. Belonging to the Oleaceae family, it has been a subject of botanical interest since its early documentation in the late 18th century. Its ecological importance, aesthetic appeal, and adaptability continue to make it a vital component of North American flora, despite the challenges posed by invasive species.
Common Names
Eng: downy ash, green ash, green ash, red ash, red ash, northern red ash
Ron: frasin de oregon
Fra: frêne de pennsylvanie, frêne rouge
Pol: jesion pensylwański
Deu: pennsylvanische esche
Lav: pensilv, zaļais osis
Ces: jasan pensylvánský
Swe: rödask
Hun: vörös kőris
Nld: pennsylvaanse es
En: Green ash, Red ash, Downy ash, Mótó’e, Green ash, Red ash, Northern red ash
Ar: مران بنسلفاني
Hy: Հացենի պենսիլվանյան
Az: Nеştəryаrpаq göyrüş
Be: Ясень пенсільванскі, Пэнсыльванскі ясень
Bg: Пенсилвански ясен
Zh: 美国红梣
Hr: Pensilvanijski jasen
Cs: Jasan pensylvánský
Nl: Pennsylvaanse es
Et: Pensilvaania saar
Fi: Punasaarni
Fr: Frêne de Pennsylvanie, Frêne rouge
De: Pennsylvanische Esche, Rot-Esche
He: מילה פנסילוונית
Hu: Amerikai kőris, Vörös kőris
Kn: Geeda mulikegallu
Ko: 붉은물푸레
Lv: Pensilv, Zaļais osis
No: Rødask
Fa: زبان گنجشک قرمز
Pl: Jesion pensylwański
Ro: Frasin de Oregon
Ru: Ясень пенсильванский
Es: Fresno rojo, Fresno verde
Sv: Rödask
Zh-tw: 美國紅梣
Zh-hant: 美國紅梣
Tr: Yeşil dişbudak
Synonyms
- Fraxinus viridis (F.Michx.)
- Fraxinus oblongocarpa (Buckley)
- Leptalix ovata ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Fraxinus americana var. subpubescens ((Pers.) Wesm.)
- Fraxinus darlingtonii (Britton)
- Fraxinus platyphylla (Hoffmanns.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica f. erythrocarpa (Vict. & J.Rousseau)
- Fraxinus americana var. normale (Wesm.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. austinii (Fernald)
- Leptalix richardii ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Fraxinus lanceolata var. viridis ((C.K.Schneid.) Lingelsh.)
- Fraxinus lanceolata (Borkh.)
- Leptalix longifolia ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Leptalix rufa ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Calycomelia lanceolata ((Borkh.) Lunell)
- Calycomelia pubescens ((Lam.) Kostel.)
- Fraxinus cerasifolia (Hoffmanns.)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. nana (Dippel)
- Fraxinus lanceolata var. macrocarpa (Lingelsh.)
- Fraxinus glabra (P.Lawson ex Beissn.)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. boscii (Dippel)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. ovata ((Bosc) K.Koch)
- Fraxinus americana var. pennsylvanica ((Marshall) Weston)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. pubescens ((Lam.) Lingelsh.)
- Fraxinus lancifolia (Raf.)
- Fraxinus viridis var. pubescens ((Lam.) Hitchc.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima ((Vahl) Fernald)
- Fraxinus pubescens (Lam.)
- Fraxinus ovata (Bosc)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica f. megaphylla (Vict. & J.Rousseau)
- Leptalix pubescens ((Lam.) Raf.)
- Fraxinus subvillosa (Bosc ex Pers.)
- Fraxinus longifolia (Bosc)
- Leptalix fusca ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Calycomelia ovata ((Bosc) Kostel.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. aucubifolia ((H.Jaeger) Rehder)
- Fraxinus aucubifolia (G.Kirchn.)
- Calycomelia pennsylvanica ((Marshall) Nieuwl.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica f. scotica (B.Boivin)
- Calycomelia elliptica ((Bosc) Kostel.)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. subpubescens (Pers.)
- Calycomelia expansa ((Willd.) Kostel.)
- Calycomelia lancea ((Bosc) Kostel.)
- Fraxinus rubicunda (Bosc)
- Fraxinus concolor (Muhl.)
- Leptalix cinerea ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. ovata ((Bosc) Dippel)
- Fraxinus cinerea (Bosc)
- Fraxinus americana var. rubicunda ((Bosc) Wesm.)
- Calycomelia richardii ((Bosc) Kostel.)
- Fraxinus campestris (Britton)
- Fraxinus media (Raf.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. campestris ((Britton) F.C.Gates)
- Fraxinus lancea (Bosc)
- Calycomelia campestris ((Britton) Nieuwl. & Lunell)
- Leptalix media (Raf.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata ((Borkh.) Sarg.)
- Fraxinus lanceolata var. lindheimeri ((Wenz.) Lingelsh.)
- Leptalix rubicunda ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Fraxinus fusca (Bosc)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. viridis (C.K.Schneid.)
- Fraxinus elliptica (Bosc)
- Fraxinus trialata (Buckley)
- Fraxinus arbutifolia (Dippel)
- Leptalix lancifolia (Raf.)
- Fraxinus americana var. pubescens ((Lam.) D.J.Browne)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica f. aucubifolia ((H.Jaeger) Rehder)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. lindheimeri (Wenz.)
- Fraxinus americana subvar. aucubifolia ((H.Jaeger) Wesm.)
- Fraxinus smallii (Britton)
- Fraxinus ovalis (Willd.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica subsp. subintegerrima ((Vahl) A.E.Murray)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. typica (Fernald)
- Fraxinus richardii (Bosc)
- Leptalix elliptica ((Bosc) Raf.)
- Fraxinus viridis var. trialata ((Buckley) Schelle)
- Leptalix expansa ((Willd.) Raf.)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica f. colorata (B.Boivin)
- Fraxinus juglandifolia var. aucubifolia (H.Jaeger)
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. austini-megaphylla (Vict. & J.Rousseau)
- Fraxinus nigra var. pubescens ((Lam.) Castigl.)
- Fraxinus expansa (Willd.)
- Fraxinus americana subsp. pennsylvanica ((Marshall) Wesm.)
- Fraxinus juglandifolia var. subintegerrima (Vahl)
- Fraxinus rufa (Bosc)
- Fraxinus pubescens var. coriacea (Dippel)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Florida (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Jun 21, 2020 by Roberto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kendra Vanderkruk (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 16, 2021 by Guy Comeault (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 10, 2022 by Ellen Kass (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken May 28, 2022 by Sánchez Delgadillo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kendra Vanderkruk (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 3, 2022 by trevor simons (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 21, 2020 by Roberto (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Jeff Potts (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 2, 2021 by Chris Griggs (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken May 29, 2022 by Renée-Louise Lamontagne (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Sonlight (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 25, 2022 by emily (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 24, 2020 by del hierro teresa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 15, 2020 by Steffen Christensen (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jun 19, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kendra Vanderkruk (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 16, 2021 by Sinan Avcı (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 2, 2021 by Chris Griggs (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2020 by valérie mc (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3172348)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:105864-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall)
Specifications
Growth form: Single Crown
Growth habit: Tree
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 8.1
Ph minimum: 5.0
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 7
Soil nutriments: 6