← Bedfellow

Black Ash

Fraxinus nigra

Black ash is a slow, wetland ash of northern swamps and fens, culturally vital for traditional basketry. It is among the most threatened by the emerald ash borer, lending conservation urgency to its planting.

Family

Oleaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

65–65 ft

Spacing

50–65 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

moist, wet

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

March, April

Bloom colors

white, purple

Wildlife value

butterflies, pollinators, mammals, songbirds

Caterpillar hosts

~149 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

naturalizing

Native states

CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI, WV