# Common Ash (*Fraxinus excelsior*) The Common Ash tree has lovely green leaves and grows tall and strong. In winter, it can be spotted easily because it loses its leaves! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and riverbanks - **Also known as:** Ash, Ash Tree, European Ash ![Common Ash](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426800/objects/4792.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Ash is a tall, graceful tree with a broad, rounded crown. It has distinctive black, velvety buds in winter. Its compound leaves feature 9-13 dark green leaflets, and its gray bark develops deep fissures with age. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Oleaceae - **Genus:** Fraxinus ## Interesting facts - Ancient Celts believed it had healing powers and could protect against lightning. - Common Ash is one of the very last trees to sprout leaves in the spring. - Its incredibly tough and flexible wood was once used to build medieval chariot wheels! - Norse mythology describes the massive world-tree Yggdrasil as a giant Ash! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Growth:** Common Ash can grow quickly, helping it reach sunlight faster than competitors. - **Wind Dispersal:** Common Ash has lightweight, winged seeds that are carried far by the wind to find new places to grow. - **Flexible Wood:** Common Ash has incredibly tough yet flexible wood, helping it bend and withstand strong winds without breaking. - **Soil Tolerance:** Common Ash can thrive in many different soil types, helping it adapt to various habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-40 m - **Spread:** 8-15 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 50-200 cm - **Lifespan:** 200-300 years - **Fruit Type:** Samara - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** Ash Dieback fungus (*Hymenoscyphus fraxineus*) — causes a devastating disease that kills ash trees - **Eats:** [Great Capricorn Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-capricorn-beetle) (*Cerambyx cerdo*) — larvae bore into and feed on ash wood - **Eats:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — feeds on the winged seeds (ash keys) of the tree - **Eats:** Chaffinch (*Fringilla coelebs*) — eats the nutritious seeds from ash trees ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [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. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Ash? 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 Common Ash? 20-40 m ### How wide does Common Ash spread? 8-15 m ### Is Common Ash edible? No ### How big is Common Ash? 50-200 cm ### How long does Common Ash live? 200-300 years ### Where is Common Ash usually found? Woodlands and riverbanks ### What kind of fruit does Common Ash produce? Samara ## Where to spot - [Whipsnade Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/whipsnade-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Brückenpark Müngsten (Solingen)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bruckenpark-mungsten-solingen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Sagittario Gorges Regional Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sagittario-gorges-regional-nature-reserve) — IT · Park - [Großer Garten Dresden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grosser-garten-dresden) — Sachsen, DE · Park - [Schlosspark Linderhof (Ettal)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/linderhof-palace-park-ettal) — Bayern, DE · Park - [La Bassée National Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/la-bassee-national-nature-reserve) — Île-de-France, FR · Park [View all places to see Common Ash](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-ash) ## 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: [Common Ash: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-ash)