white ash fraxinus americana
More than just a fast-growing tree (1 to 2 feet per year), white ash has a lot of other things going for it: Flexible and strong wood that won’t break easily in a storm; thin leaves that break down quickly if you don’t get them raked, and finally, leaves that drop early to let lots of autumn sunlight into your windows. But I think the fall color, like Autumn Purple™, left, is enough to recommend this tree. Other colorful cultivars are ‘Rosehill’, ‘Autumn Blaze’ and Windy City™. All four of these white ashes are male trees, so you don’t have to worry about seeds. That means that later there won’t be white ash trees sprouting everywhere.
All ash trees are susceptible to the emerald ash borer. Before planting an ash tree, consult with your extension services or state forestry department to see if ash is a wise selection for your area.
TYPE Tree SIZE 60 ft. tall by 40 ft. wide BLOOM Insignificant LIGHT Full sun SOIL Rich PESTS Emerald ash borer; occasional scale HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 3 to 9 Heat: AHS zones 9 to 1
