Common Ash
ExploreTrees
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!
Habitat: Woodlands and riverbanks
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.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyOleaceaeGenusFraxinus
Category
TreesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
3
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
Ability
Rapid Growth
Common Ash can grow quickly, helping it reach sunlight faster than competitors.
Ability
Wind Dispersal
Common Ash has lightweight, winged seeds that are carried far by the wind to find new places to grow.
Ability
Flexible Wood
Common Ash has incredibly tough yet flexible wood, helping it bend and withstand strong winds without breaking.
Ability
Soil Tolerance
Common Ash can thrive in many different soil types, helping it adapt to various habitats.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-40 m
- Canopy Spread
- 8-15 m
- Edible
- No
- Trunk Diameter
- 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
Cerambyx cerdo
larvae bore into and feed on ash wood
eats
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
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Timber
Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Also known as
AshAsh TreeEuropean Ash
Collections
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 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
How fast does Common Ash grow?
Medium
Snap Map
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