# Manna ash (*Fraxinus ornus*) The Manna ash is a beautiful tree that can grow tall and has lovely, green leaves. In spring, it produces sweet sap that can be used to make treats! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Manna ash](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Fraxinus_ornus_-_Flowers_-_Fronton_%28Haute-Garonne%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Fraxinus_ornus_-_Flowers_-_Fronton_%28Haute-Garonne%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Manna ash has a dense, rounded crown and smooth grey bark. In spring, it bursts with showy, fragrant clusters of creamy white flowers, unusual for an ash tree. Its pinnate leaves turn vibrant yellow and purple in autumn. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Oleaceae - **Genus:** Fraxinus ## Interesting facts - Its sweet sap was once called 'manna from heaven' in ancient texts! - People in Sicily still tap its bark to collect the sugary 'manna' for treats! - This ash tree's wood is super flexible, perfect for making tool handles! - Unlike most ash trees, this one boasts beautiful, fragrant white flowers! ## Special abilities - **Sweet Sap Secret:** Manna ash can produce a sweet sap called 'manna' that helps it heal wounds and attracts beneficial insects. - **Showy Pollinator Beacon:** Manna ash has fragrant, creamy white flowers that bloom in large clusters, attracting many insects for pollination. - **Drought Defender:** Manna ash can grow in dry, rocky soils because its strong roots help it find water, making it tough. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-2500 cm - **Spread:** 800-1500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** Gypsy moth (*Lymantria dispar*) — larvae feed on its leaves - **Eaten by:** Chaffinch (*Fringilla coelebs*) — feeds on its small seeds ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring forests and don't touch unknown plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Manna ash? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Manna ash? 1500-2500 cm ### How wide does Manna ash spread? 800-1500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Manna ash? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Manna ash bloom? Spring ### Is Manna ash edible? Yes ### Is Manna ash toxic? None ### What is Manna ash's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Gartenschaupark Hockenheim](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gartenschaupark-hockenheim) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Rosensteinpark Stuttgart](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosensteinpark-stuttgart) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carrascal-de-la-font-roja-natural-park) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park [View all places to see Manna ash](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/manna-ash) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Manna ash: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/manna-ash)