The trees also tend to have distinctive bark that varies by species.
Ashes are dioecious trees, meaning individual trees contain either male or female parts, but not both.
Male trees are the best choice if you do not want the messiness of the fruit/seeds.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Here are several types of ash trees that are used as shade, lawn, and street trees.
Birds and animals eat the seeds and deer and moose feed on the branches and leaves.
The thick gray bark becomes fissured and scaly as the tree ages.
Doug McGrady / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It has seven to 13 leaflets per compound leaf group, and the foliage turns yellow in the fall.
Unfortunately, black ash is highly susceptible to emerald ash borer.
It grows in various soil conditions and is especially forgiving of conditions like pollution and salt in urban areas.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
The gray-brown bark forms a diamond-like pattern.
The leaves include five to nine leaflets, turning variable shades of yellow in the fall.
Green ash is traditionally planted as a shade tree.
jdwfoto / Getty Images
Green vs Black Ash?
It is a pyramidal tree that gradually develops a fully rounded crown as the tree ages.
Its gray bark has a distinctive pattern of diamond-shaped ridges in older trees.
Malerapaso / Getty Images
Its leaves are clusters of five to nine leaflets, dark green on top and whitish-green on the undersides.
In the fall, its leaves become purplish yellow.
White ash populations in the eastern U.S. have been catastrophically affected by emerald ash borer.
Joe Decruyenaere / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
A distinctive characteristic of this species native to the Midwest is the square shape of young shoots.
In mature trees, the gray bark forms irregular plates.
The leaves form clusters of seven to 11 leaflets, turning gray and dull yellow in the fall.
Homeredwardprice / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It is one of the best ashes for dry locations, though it also does well in medium-wet sites.
Blue ash is less affected by emerald ash borer than other North American ash tree species.
It is native to California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.
Agenturfotograf / Getty Images
The leaves have serrated edges and rounded tips, forming clusters of three to nine leaflets.
The white flowers have two petals and hang in fragrant clusters.
This is a good plant fordrought, since it has low water needs.
Homer Edward Price / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It is native to North Carolina and South Carolina, in addition to neighboring swampy states.
Other common names include Florida ash, swamp ash, water ash, and pop ash.
This rare ash tree does well in shady conditions and is perfect for stabilizing wetland areas.
Horst Sollinger / Getty Images
It is also known as common ash.Unlike most ashes, this tree is generally wider than tall when mature.
Look for black buds as a characteristic to distinguish them from other ashes, which usually have brown buds.
The leaves of European ash comprise seven to 13 leaflets.
IHervas / Getty Images
This species hassmaller leavesthan other ash tree species, forming clusters of three to 11 leaflets.
The bark is smooth and gray, and the branches are quite thin.
This is one of the few ashes that tolerate some shade.
Herman Bresser / Getty Images
Emerald ash borer has not yet affected this tree in its native range but could in the future.
The tree is native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia.
The dark gray bark on this tree remains smooth, even in old trees.
Jon. D. Anderson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Narrow Leaf Ash
IHervas / Getty Images
The narrow-leaf ash (Fraxinus angustifolia).
The slender leaves are grouped in three to 13 leaflets.
This is another non-North American ash that may have greater resistance to damage from emerald ash borer.
skymoon13 / Getty Images
The tree is native to eastern North America.
The trunk is covered in thick, gray, fissured bark.
The leaves comprise clusters of seven to nine leaflets that turn bronze to purplish-red in fall.
This tree likes moist soil, making it a traditional choice for large rain gardens.
This large tree needs a lot of space.
Due to its high susceptibility to emerald ash borer, it is no longer a recommended ash tree.
Velvet Ash
Jon.
It is a good choice if you need a tree that grows fast.
The smooth gray bark becomes slightly fissured as the tree ages.
Treatment is most effective if it begins before the tree becomes infested.
Trees that have experienced canopy loss of 50 percent or more usually cannot be saved.
Tips
The compound leaves of ash trees are often confused forhickoryorwalnut trees.
Ash tree leaves are opposite each other whereas hickory and walnut leaflets are arranged alternating along the stem.
Some other common differences are ash trees do not have nuts, and they have diamond-patterned furrowed bark.
The one commonality they all share is an affinity for full sun.
Young ash trees should be watered regularly to keep the soil moist as their roots become established.
Mature ash trees usually only need watering during a prolonged drought or high temperatures.
Ash trees generally have a quick growth rate when they’re planted in conditions they like and kept healthy.
They typically leaf out in the middle to late spring but hold onto their leaves late into fall.
Emerald Ash Borer Management.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
California Native Plant Society.
Emerald Ash Borer Resources.Oregon State University Extension Service.
Emerald Ash Borer Frequently Asked Questions.
North Carolina Forest Service.
Plants, People, Planet, vol.
1, 2020, pp.
41-46. doi:10.1002/ppp3.10077
Fraxinus greggii.
1, 2018. doi:10.1093/jipm/pmx029
Fraxinus profunda.Missouri Botanical Garden.
Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer.North Central Integrated Pest Management Center.
