SCIENTIFIC NAME: Fraxinus americana

COMMON NAME: white ash

LEAVES: Opposite and odd pinnately compound with 7 to 9 leaflets. Leaf scar is horseshoe shaped and goes around the bud making it very difficult to see the bud with the leaf attached. Crucial characteristic for positive identification. Good yellow fall color.

BARK: Gray and ridge and furrowed.

FRUIT: Single samara. Up to 3" long. Long wing tapering to base with seed at the base.

OTHER: Fibrous rooted. Bud is hidden by the petiole. Limbs are very weak. Grows 50' to 80' tall. Yellow fall color. Wood is used to make baseball bats. Native to the eastern United States. Slow growing. A member of the Oleaceae family.

CULTIVARS: Several cultivars of this species are available and some are seedless. 'Autumn Applause' (purple fall color), 'Autumn Purple', 'Rosehill', 'Champaign County' are some cultivars on the market.