Known to be toxic - Toxic to mammals if ingested.
Source: Daderot
Plant Names
Fraxinus americana
White Ash
Frêne blanc
Synonyms
American ash
cane ash
franc frêne
frêne d'Amérique
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Green
Bloom Period: Apr - May
Max Height: 120.0 feet
Max Width: 75.0 feet
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Plant is
dioecious
Need a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
Landscape Uses:
No landscape information available.
Ecological Benefits:
Butterfly host
Keystone species
Butterfly host
Keystone species
Tolerates:
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
White Ash's name comes from the pale underside of its leaves. Its strong, flexible wood has traditionally been used for baseball bats, tool handles, paddles and other sporting equipment. Its winged seeds, called samaras, spin as they fall and can be carried away from the parent tree by the wind. It needs plenty of room and is best suited to a large property. Young trees should be watered regularly while establishing. It does not spread aggressively, although female trees can produce many wind-dispersed seeds. It is highly vulnerable to Emerald Ash Borer. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to plant one.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Prairies
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Fraxinus americana
-
Acronicta radcliffei
Radcliffe’s dagger -
Apatelodes torrefacta
Spotted Apatelodes -
Cingilia catenaria
Chain-dotted geometer - Arpenteuse caténaire -
Papilio glaucus
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papillon Tigré de l'Est -
Satyrium caryaevorus
Hickory Hairstreak - Porte-queue du Caryer
Specialized Bees Supported by Fraxinus americana
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Sisyrinchium montanum
Strict Blue-eyed-grass
Bermudienne montagnarde
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn)
- Rhamnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn)
- Acer japonicum (Japanese Maple)
- Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Notes: Soak for 24h.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are released from plant
- Harvesting:
- Open the pod, remove seeds
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: Six (6) seeds (eyeball)
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Toxic to mammals if ingested.