Ash Trees - Black, White, Green
Black Ash
Black Ash is also called swamp ash, hoop ash and basket ash. The ash tree grows to the height of 30'-70' and between 1' to 1 1/2" in diameter. It is a small to medium sized tree with a slender trunk and a rounded crown.
Black Ash is the only eastern ash with stalkless leaflets. The winter leaf buds are blue black. The dark green foliage emerges late in the spring and drops early in the fall. The Black Ash likes to grow in cold swamps and bogs.
The leaf is between 10"-16" long with 7-11 leaflets with 4" to 5". The flower is purplish and emerges in the early spring. The fruit on the Black Ash is 1"-1 1/2" long and comes in the late summer.
The bark of the Black Ash is gray and soft, it fissures into scaly plates that when rubbed can reduce into a powdery substance. Black ash easily separates into thin layers and the strips of wood are used in making baskets, hoops for barrels and chair bottoms. Sometimes ash is used for interior finishing by carpenters.
White Ash
White Ash can grow between 70' to 100' in height and 2'-3' in diameter. This is a medium to large size tree with a straight trunk and dense symmetrical crown. The bark fissures make diamond pattern. Older trees have buttressed trunk base and massive branches. When growing in the forests the lower branches may start high on the tree.
White Ash is one of the world's tallest and largest ashes. It is usually planted as a shade tree and as an ornamental for its beautiful fall foliage. The leaf on the White Ash is 8"-12" long with 5 or 9 leaflets that are between 3"-5" long and 1 1/2" to 3" wide. The color is glossy, dark green on top and grayish white underneath. The fall colors range from purple, bronze, gold and yellow all on the same leaf. The flower on the White Ash is purplish in the early spring and 1"- 1/2" long.
The White Ash is also called the Biltmore Ash and likes to grow in moist rich soil that is well drained. White Ash has tough wood that is strong it is used mainly for oar handles and baseball bats.
Green Ash
Green Ash is also called swamp ash and can grow between 60' to 70'. Green Ash is a medium sized tree and the diameter can be between 1 1/2' to 2' in width. The Green Ash has a tall trunk and a compact crown. Bark fissures make a diamond pattern and it can be difficult to distinguish between it and the white ash.
The leaf buds sit above a leaf scar that is nearly straight across, not u-shaped and the leafstalks of the 2 basal leaflets on each leaf have flattened edges or "wings).
Green Ash is hardy and fast growing and is resistant to wind and floods. Green Ash likes to grow near flooded forests and along streams and swamps.
The Green Ash has glossy bright green leaves and the flower is purplish in early spring. The fruit is 1 1/4"-2 1/4" long samara. The wing extends from middle of narrow, cylindrical seed (much narrower than in the White Ash) in late summer to fall. Green Ash is used in making guitars it is lighter that White Ash.
This is our first article in our "know your trees" series. Northland Timber & Logging Company hopes that you enjoy this series of articles that we are publishing. The importance of this is so that landowners can better identify the trees that they have in their forest so that they can be maintained properly for future growth.
For more extensive information on Ash trees or for caring for the trees in your woods visit us at Northland Timber & Logging. We are a Michigan based company and focus primarily on family forests in lower Michigan.
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