White Ash — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Fraxinus americana |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 30–60 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 10–21.1 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 1825–3650 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 1219.2–1828.8 |
| Mature height (cm) | 1524–2438.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 914.4–1524 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Plant in moist, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil in full sun; white ash is a magnificent native canopy tree of eastern North American forests, producing large, compound leaves that turn exceptional shades of yellow, orange, and deep burgundy-purple in fall — among the finest fall color of any native tree. IMPORTANT: White ash is critically threatened across its entire range by the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees since its detection in Michigan in 2002; all native Fraxinus species in North America are vulnerable. Planting is still worthwhile in areas where USDA-approved biocontrol programs using parasitoid wasps (Tetrastichus planipennisi and others) are actively established, as these programs are showing meaningful suppression in treated areas. Consult your state forestry agency or Cooperative Extension service for current EAB biocontrol status in your region before planting. The historically important wood — used for baseball bats, tool handles, and furniture — and the tree's exceptional ecological value as a host for hundreds of native insects make white ash worth preserving wherever possible.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · fraxinus-americana
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0