# ashes (*Fraxinus*) Ash trees are tall and strong, with beautiful green leaves that turn yellow in the fall. They provide shade and homes for many animals, making them important in nature. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![ashes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fraxinus_excelsior.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. MPF assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fraxinus_excelsior.jpg) ## Appearance The ashes has distinctive diamond-patterned bark that can be gray or brown. Its opposite, compound leaves feature 5-11 oval leaflets. In autumn, these leaves turn vibrant yellow, often with purple hues, before falling. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Oleaceae - **Genus:** Fraxinus ## Interesting facts - Ancient Norse myths describe the mighty world tree Yggdrasil as a giant ash! - Ash is often one of the last trees to grow leaves in spring! - Some ash trees have sweet sap, once called 'manna', used as a natural sugar! - The largest ash tree in Europe is over 260 years old and still growing! ## Special abilities - **Spring Awakening:** Ashes have opposite, compound leaves that quickly unfurl in spring, efficiently capturing sunlight to make food. - **Tough Timber:** Ash trees possess incredibly strong, flexible wood, allowing branches to withstand winds and maintain the tree's upright structure. - **Deep Drinker Roots:** Ash trees develop deep, widespread root systems that efficiently draw water and nutrients, helping them thrive in varied soils. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 m - **Spread:** 10-20 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 50-150 cm - **Lifespan:** 70-200 years - **Fruit Type:** Samara - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Emerald Ash Borer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/emerald-ash-borer) (*Agrilus planipennis*) — Larvae tunnel under bark, often killing trees. - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels eat the winged samara seeds from ash trees. - **Parasitizes:** Ash Dieback Fungus (*Hymenoscyphus fraxineus*) — Causes leaves to wilt, bark lesions, and branch dieback. - **Shelter:** [White-breasted Nuthatch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-breasted-nuthatch) (*Sitta carolinensis*) — Nests in tree cavities and forages for insects on bark. - **Depends on:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Picoides pubescens*) — Forages for insects within the bark and wood. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always look out for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify ashes? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is ashes? 15-40 m ### How wide does ashes spread? 10-20 m ### Is ashes edible? No ### How big is ashes? 50-150 cm ### How long does ashes live? 70-200 years ### Where is ashes usually found? Forests ### What kind of fruit does ashes produce? Samara ## Where to spot - [Lynwood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lynwood-park) — California, US · Park - [Parque Forestal Polvoranca](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parque-forestal-polvoranca) — Comunidad de Madrid, ES · Park ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Ashes: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ashes)