Green Ash

Basic Information
Tree ID: 
163
Family: 
Oleaceae
Genus and species: 
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Description: 
Tall, drooping branches. The twigs are pale gray and the bark is brown. As a deciduous tree, the Green Ash loses its leaves during the colder seasons. Once the weather became warmer, we were able to observe the Green Ash’s green leaflets and buds that grow opposite from one another. Its leaves have pointed tips and tapered bases, colored medium to dark green during the warmer weather. Its bark ridges are diamond shaped. We also were able to see some small green, or purplish flowers blooming.
Surveyors: 
Sorah Park and Alysha Siddiqi
Location
Area: 
Hillhouse
Collected Data
Tree shape: 
Oval
Date of tree entry: 
02/09/2023
Height: 
13.50 m
Diameter at breast height: 
1.63 m

Bark
We found the bark to have diamond shaped ridges, colored grayish/dark brown. The bark is roughly textured.
Twigs & branches
The branches are slender and extend outwards, dropping towards the ground and bending upwards at the tips. The downwards bend of the twigs is a signature feature of the Green Ash tree.
Foilage
The Green Ash has green leaflets and buds that grow opposite from one another. Its leaves have pointed tips and tapered bases, colored medium to dark green during the warmer weather. When the weather became warmer, we were also able to observe some small green, or purplish flowers blooming.
Reproductive Structures
The species is dioecious, which means that male and female flowers are on separate trees. Flowers are wind-pollinated, and trees can produce significant seeds when they are around 8-10 inches in diameters.
Fruit
The fruit of the Green Ash is a samara, appearing as clusters of fruit near the ends of the branches.
Research
Natural range of distribution: 
Habitat: 
The Green Ash is very adaptable, growing naturally on a range of different types of soils (such as clay soils and sily soils). These trees primarily grow on bottom lands, but can also grow on uphill slopes as long as rainfall is sufficient to support upland growth. Green Ash grow best in subhumid to humid climates.
Origin, history, and uses: 

Green Ash can be used for its strength, flexibility, hardness, and shock resistance. It is used to build items such as tool handles, baseball bats, and boxes. It is popular in residential areas as it is very adaptable and provides good shade.

References: 

Fraxinus Pennsylvanica Marsh, https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/fraxinus/pennsylva…

“Green Ash (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica).” Green Ash (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica) | Department of Horticulture, https://www.uky.edu/hort/propagation-green-ash#:~:text=Seed%20collection…

“Green Ash (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica).” Bplant.org, https://bplant.org/plant/124. 

Saunders, Patrick. “From Black Betsy to Wonderboy: The Bats That Built the Game.” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2016, https://www.denverpost.com/2013/08/17/from-black-betsy-to-wonderboy-the-…

 
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