How to identify Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

How to identify Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Green ash, also known as Downy ash, Water ash

Green ash is distinguished by its thick, grayish-brown bark with distinctive diamond-shaped ridges on mature specimens. Its foliage is characterized by pinnately compound leaves, typically featuring 7 to 9 ovate or lance-elliptic leaflets, each measuring 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) in length. The leaflets have serrated edges starting from the midpoint to the tip and are attached to the main stem by short-winged stalks. In early spring, green ash exhibits inconspicuous, petal-less flowers. Female trees later produce clusters of winged samaras, which are key identification features to note.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Green ash

Thick, grayish-brown bark with diamond-shaped ridges.

Pinnately compound leaves with 7-9 ovate leaflets, serrated edges.

Inconspicuous, petal-less flowers in early spring.

Clusters of narrow, single-winged samaras hanging in late summer.

Stout stem with semicircular leaf scars and lateral buds on top.

Detailed Traits of Green ash

Leaf Features

The leaves of green ash are 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) long, pinnately compound with 5 to 9 oval to lance-elliptic leaflets. Each leaflet measures 2.5 to 5 inches (6 to 13 cm) in length and 1 to 1.75 inches (2.5 to 4.5 cm) in width, with a short winged stalk. The upper surface is dark green and smooth, while the underside is pale green with silky pubescence. Leaf margins can be entire, crenate, or serrate.

Leaf Shape

Lanceolate ,

Ovate

Leaf Type

Pinnate

Leaf Base

Cuneate

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Leaf Margin

Serrate

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

Green ash flowers are dioecious, with male and female blooms on separate trees. Male flowers are small, light green to purple, and appear in tight clusters, while female flowers are greenish and form in loose, hanging panicles. Both types of flowers are apetalous (lacking petals). They bloom from April through May, after the foliage has emerged, providing a distinctive identification feature. The small size and unique coloration make these flowers easily recognizable.

Corolla Type

Apetalous

Inflorescence Type

Panicle

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of green ash is stout and varies in color from gray to greenish-brown. It can be either smooth or pubescent, adorned with white lenticels. The leaf scars are semicircular to flat, and the lateral buds sit directly on top of them, making the stem identifiable. This characteristic pattern is consistent with a sturdy structure that supports the plant's growth and development.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of green ash is a samara, characterized by a single-winged, flat, and dry structure. Key for identification, the wing extends less than halfway down the body of the fruit, encompassing a slender seed cavity. These fruits are notably narrow, measuring about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in length and 1/4 inch (approximately 0.6 cm) in width. Initially green, the samaras transition to a tan hue upon maturation. Found in ample clusters, they dangle gracefully from the plant from late summer through autumn and may remain attached into the winter season.

Fruit Type

Samara

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Green ash and Their Similar Plants

White ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

White ash is a species of ash tree native to North America. Its leaves turn distinctly bright yellow or red in the autumn. *Fraxinus americana* is a fast-growing pioneer species that often inhabits riparian zones, and fragmented and disturbed habitats. It is similar in appearance to green ash (Fraxinus americana) and sometimes it is hard to tell between the two.

Black ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) is a deciduous tree that grows to 12 to 15 m tall. It has an attractive dark gray or brown bark and its limbs ascend upward to form a small canopy. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in cold climates. It is adaptable to wet sites but is susceptible to emerald ash borer.

Oregon ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

Fraxinus latifolia is a native of the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. Part of its Latin name, 'latifolia' means wide leaves. This tree has wider leaves than other species of ash. Oregon ash can grow to heights of 18 m to 24 m in height, with a trunk diameter of 41 to 76 cm.

Blue ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) is a flowering plant species that is indigenous to the midwestern United States. Blue ash grows in moist valley soils and serves as an important food source for frogs.

Pumpkin ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

Pumpkin ash, or Fraxinus profunda, is a species of ash tree that grows mainly in swamps in the eastern United States. This medium-sized deciduous tree is critically endangered because the feeding habits of the emerald ash borer has caused a decline in pumpkin ash population.

Raywood ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 20 to 30 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. The bark is smooth and pale grey on young trees, becoming square-cracked and knobbly on old trees. The buds are pale brown, which readily distinguishes it from the related Fraxinus excelsior (black buds) even in winter.

Carolina ash vs. Green ash: What's The Difference?

Carolina ash is a wetland-loving tree notable for its long, feathery leaves and grey bark, thriving alongside riverbanks and in swampy areas of the southeastern United States. Its winged seeds, grouped in clusters, enable it to propagate effectively in its humid habitat, while its ability to tolerate water saturation aids in stabilizing these ecosystems.

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Key Facts About Green ash

Attributes of Green ash

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

10 m to 20 m

Spread

11 m to 15 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

5 cm to 20 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Green

Purple

White

Red

Lavender

Burgundy

Gold

Fruit Color

Brown

Green

Copper

Stem Color

Black

Leaf type

Deciduous

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Scientific Classification of Green ash

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Mints plantains olives and allies

Family

Olive

Genus

Ashes

Species

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Learn More About the Green ash

Distribution Map of Green ash

Green ash is native to the eastern United States and eastern Canada. It has been naturalized in parts of Europe. In nature, it grows near streams and in bottomlands, but it is also found commonly in public spaces as it is a popular landscaping ornamental throughout its range.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Green ash

A Comprehensive Guide to Green ash How to Grow and Care for Green ash