Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Fraxinus pennsylvanica is the most common tree in North America, and with good reason. It is a medium deciduous tree with a gray-brown trunk that is smooth when young and becomes thick, grooved and rather attractive as it matures. The tree grows quickly, and it is very long-lived. (There are some trees that are about 600 years old!) The American Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a large tree, and of the ash cultivars, it is the largest. Under optimal conditions, it will reach a height of up to 30 meters and a crown diameter of up to 18! When young, F. pennsylvanica is characterized by a relatively narrow canopy, and in adulthood, this grows broader to the point of being round. The tree’s canopy is broad and spreading, casting a medium amount of shade. The gray trunk is preserved throughout the tree’s entire life, and as it ages, the trunk matures from smooth to rough and grooved, which is a characteristic feature of ash trees. The tree blooms in the most red-brown colors imaginable. Its green leaves are elongated and glossy. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a true deciduous tree. In the mountains and cool locales, its fall display begins relatively early, as soon as the end of October and beginning of November. Without auxiliary watering, its fall display will also begin earlier in warmer places (the center of the country, the coast and the lowlands), while it usually will present its fall display in those areas later, at the end of November and beginning of December. Fraxinus pennsylvanica excels in its spectacular and bright yellow color and sometimes also in orange shades. The duration of the fall display and its intensity depends on the weather and microclimate of the area where grows, and of course as it matures, its leaves will change more ‘easily’ in warmer areas.

Like other ash trees, F. pennsylvanica is also dioecious (separate male and female trees). Male trees present a fuller and more uniform foliage appearance throughout most of the year (until fall), and in contrast, female trees present a varied and uneven display, from individuals with little fruit to those loaded with fruit. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a tree with tremendous potential. Despite the fact that this is a large tree that is easy to design and has ideal branch angles, it is also extremely durable. It can withstand extreme weather conditions, and furthermore, compared with its siblings in Israel, it is the least vulnerable to the leopard moth – the perennial enemy of ash trees in Israel. F. pennsylvanica will thrive in heavy soils and enjoy auxiliary watering to help it achieve richer, longer and more vital greenery. Note that in Israel, Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees that have been planted thus far are from seed propagation, so there has been great variation between the cultivars, which explains the clear difference in the features of the structure, size, sex and of course the fall display. Due to the broad genetic diversity in ash trees, it is highly recommended to plant ‘outstanding’ cultivars: those that have been professionally identified and carefully selected. These will give a uniform look and show the preferred features of the complex cultivar. In the case of F. pennsylvanica, such cultivars will soon earn it the respect it deserves.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica is especially recommended as a tree for streets and parks, and it is very common in the US, Argentina, Russia and China as such. This is because of its high resistance to urban conditions and ability to support the ecological environment of wild animals (like frogs and birds). The tree will also thrive in challenging conditions, and the long-term investment in it will pay off thanks to its broad canopy, shade and beautiful trunk.

Additional trees from the same family:
Fraxinus uhdei | Fraxinus uhdei ‘Nova’ | Fraxinus uhdei ‘Full Moon’ | Fraxinus uhdei ‘Apollo’ | Fraxinus syriaca | Fraxinus syriaca ‘Gan haVradim’| Fraxinus Syriaca ‘Inbali’ | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Fraxinus pennsylvanica ‘Sunrise’ | Fraxinus angustifolia ssp. oxycarpa ‘Raywood’