Fraxinus excelsior seed
LATIN NAME: Fraxinus excelsior
COMMON NAME: Common Ash, European Ash
The common ash is one of the great trees of Europe, a tree of myth, timber and quiet strength. It grows tall and majestic, reaching thirty metres or more, with a straight trunk and an open crown of branches that hold its distinctive leaves: each is divided into several pairs of oval leaflets, fresh green through summer and turning yellow or deep purple in autumn. The bark is smooth and grey, becoming fissured with age, and in spring the tree bears clusters of dark purple flowers before the leaves appear. The wood of the ash is famously strong, elastic and tough, and it has been used for centuries for tool handles, oars, carts and sports equipment.
The common ash belongs to the olive family, Oleaceae, and it is native across Europe and into western Asia, where it grows in woods, hedgerows and along rivers. It is a hardy, fast-growing tree that thrives in deep, moist soil, and it has been a cornerstone of European forests and culture for millennia.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a common ash from seed is easy but takes patience, because the seeds can be slow to germinate. The winged seeds, called keys, ripen in autumn and need a long period of cold, moist conditions to germinate, so sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost in autumn and leave them outdoors through two winters, or chill them in the fridge for several months. In spring, bring the pots to a bright spot and keep them moist. Germination can be slow and uneven, so be patient. Grow the young trees on in pots for a couple of years before planting out in a sheltered spot with deep, moist soil. An ash you have raised from seed is a tree of strength and legend, and it will stand in the landscape for a very long time.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The common ash has a rich record in both forestry and ecological research. It is one of the most important hardwood trees of Europe, and foresters have studied its growth, its timber and its management for centuries, since its strong, elastic wood is prized for tools, sports equipment and construction. In recent years, the ash has become a major subject of conservation research, because a serious fungal disease has spread through European ash forests, and scientists have studied the disease, the resistance of individual trees and the future of ash woodlands, as well as programs to select and breed resistant trees. The tree’s ecology, including its role in riverside and woodland habitats, is also well studied. For a tree of such strength and cultural importance, the common ash has a deep and current record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the common ash is a keystone of European woodland. Its seeds feed birds and small mammals, its flowers feed early insects, and its vast canopy provides food and shelter for countless species of wildlife, from insects to owls.
Its economic value is substantial. The wood is one of the most prized hardwoods of Europe, famous for its strength and elasticity, and it is used for tool handles, oars, furniture, sports equipment and many other products. The tree is also planted as an ornamental and for woodland management. For a grower, the common ash is a long-term, high-value tree, and for a gardener it brings strength, grace and a deep connection to European history.
Common Ash is a broad, spreading, deciduous tree, capable of reaching 100 feet or more in height but most often seen growing at a moderate pace at 70 to 80 feet with a 60 to 90-foot spread.
The dark green, multi-divided leaves are 10 to 12 inches long and usually drop off in autumn while still green.
The inconspicuous springtime flowers are followed by clusters of 1.5-inch-long, winged fruits which turn brown and remain on the trees well after the leaves have fallen.
The low-branched, rounded silhouette of naked branches on top of the short trunk and the black, dormant leaf buds help to make common Ash an attractive winter landscape element.