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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green Ash is a forgivingly tolerant ornamental tree and therefore one of the most popular in urban plantings. Its natural range has been greatly extended by its usefulness as a tree in cities, parks, and other areas. It transplants quite easily, has a perfect ovate form, and resists pollution, heat, and diseases. Added to all this, of course, is the sight of its winged samaras spinning their way toward the ground during fall breezes. It grows quickly and makes a wonderful shade tree.
Green Ash wood is similar to its more famous relative, the White Ash, which is used to make baseball bats. Green Ash wood is strong, hard, has a high shock resistance, and is easy to bend. In addition to baseball bats, it is useful in the manufacture of tool handles, furniture, and even guitars. The wood was favored by Native American groups throughout eastern and midwestern North America. They used it to make tent poles, teepee pegs, bows, arrows, drums, whistles, and drying racks.
Oleaceae (Olive)
Medium-sized deciduous tree. Bark is smooth and gray on juvenile trees but thick and fissured with maturity. Leaves are 15-30 cm long and pinnately compound with anywhere from 5 to 11 leaflets, but most commonly 7-9. Leaflets are 5-15 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, lanceolate, with serrated margins. Fall color is golden-yellow, and Green Ash is one of the earliest trees to show color in fall. Inconspicuous, petal-less flowers occur in compact panicles in spring along with the new leaves. Fruits are samaras 2 ½-7 ½ cm long with a single seed and an elongated apical wing.
40-60 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide
Medium-sized deciduous tree with a rounded, oval-shaped crown
Fast
Full to partial sun
Green Ash is tolerant of virtually all conditions except dense shade. It performs well regardless of soil type, moisture level, and withstands heat and drought. It readily transplants and may be moved if needed.
Assets of Green Ash include its rounded, oval-shaped form, its dense shade, and the sight of its windborne seeds spinning leisurely in fall.
Green Ash grows quickly, transplants readily, and is tolerant of many different growing environments. It is useful for many purposes, including shade production, row plantings, windbreaks, a care-free ornamental specimen, and as the foundation for a future woodland.
Green Ash is a foliar host for the caterpillars of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly (particularly stunning), the Harvester butterfly, and the Tiger Swallowtail. Its seeds are an important food for a variety of game and nongame birds.
Native to a wide range across eastern and midwestern North America, from Nova Scotia to Alberta, and southeast through Wyoming, Kansas, and Texas down to Florida.
Easy from seed
Text by Kevin Tarner, Georgia Wildlife Federation
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