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White Ash

Fraxinus americana

White ash is a stately native shade tree with rich purple fall color and a powerhouse caterpillar host. The emerald ash borer has devastated wild populations, so new plantings should be sited and monitored accordingly. A bitter syrup has been drawn from the tree, though it's unclear whether this was ever really used as food rather than medicine — a minor curiosity at best.

Family

Oleaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

60–80 ft

Spacing

60–80 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

April, May

Bloom colors

yellow, purple

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~149 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen

Native states

AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV