White Ash (American Ash)
Fraxinus americana · Oleaceae (Olive family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Pinnately compound, deciduous
Shape
Lanceolate to ovate leaflets with tapered tips
Margin
Finely serrate to entire
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and branching lateral veins
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, pinnately compound leaves with stalked leaflets, distinctive diamond-patterned bark on mature trees, and U-shaped leaf scars
Description
The White Ash is a large, majestic deciduous tree known for its strong, shock-resistant wood and stunning purple-to-maroon autumn foliage. The leaves are pinnately compound with typically 5 to 9 stalked leaflets arranged in opposite pairs along the rachis.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-draining soils in deciduous forests, along streams, and upland slopes
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to Florida and Texas