# White Ash (*Fraxinus americana*) The White Ash is a tall tree with bright green leaves. In fall, its leaves can turn a beautiful purple or yellow! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests and parks - **Also known as:** American Ash, Biltmore Ash ![White Ash](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424681/objects/4793.jpg) ## Appearance The White Ash has distinctive greyish-brown bark with deep, intersecting ridges forming diamond patterns. Its compound leaves have 5-9 oval, dark green leaflets, turning beautiful yellow and purplish tones in autumn. It typically grows a straight trunk and a rounded crown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Oleaceae - **Genus:** Fraxinus ## Interesting facts - Ancient peoples used its bendy wood to craft strong bows for hunting. - Look closely: its bark often has diamond-shaped ridges you can feel. - Most professional baseball bats are made from super-strong White Ash wood! - White Ash leaves are compound, meaning many small leaflets make one big leaf! ## Special abilities - **Wind Rider Seeds:** White Ash has winged seeds (samaras) that flutter and spin, helping them travel far on the wind to find new places to grow. - **Super-Strong Wood:** White Ash can withstand strong winds and impact because it has tough, elastic wood, protecting it from breaking easily. - **Autumn Magic Display:** White Ash has special pigments in its leaves that produce stunning yellow and purple colors, signaling colder weather. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 m - **Spread:** 10-15 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 50-150 cm - **Lifespan:** 100-250 years - **Fruit Type:** Samara - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Emerald Ash Borer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/emerald-ash-borer) (*Agrilus planipennis*) — larvae burrow under bark, killing the tree - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on young ash twigs and leaves - **Eats:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — feeds on insect larvae found in ash bark - **Eaten by:** [Promethea Silkmoth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/promethea-silkmoth) (*Callosamia promethea*) — caterpillars feed on its leaves ## 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. - [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. - [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. ## 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 White 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 White Ash? 15-30 m ### How wide does White Ash spread? 10-15 m ### Is White Ash edible? No ### How big is White Ash? 50-150 cm ### How long does White Ash live? 100-250 years ### Where is White Ash usually found? Forests and parks ### What kind of fruit does White Ash produce? Samara ## Where to spot - [Chesham](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesham) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Rogerson's Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rogersons-village-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/g-richard-thompson-wildlife-management-area) — Virginia, US · Nature Reserve - [Silver Lake District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-lake-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Olney Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/olney-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Rock Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rock-creek-park) — District of Columbia, US · National Park [View all places to see White Ash](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-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: [White Ash: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-ash)