White ash
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Fraxinus americana
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Oleaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Shade tree. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. |
Description: |
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Large deciduous tree up to 75 feet with compound leaves 8-12 inches long with leaflets 3-4 inches long. Leaves turning purple-red-yellow in the fall. Bark is reticulate (fishnet-patterned.) |
Height: |
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Typically 75 feet in height, taller than broad. Can reach up to 108 feet in height. |
Growth Rate: |
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Slow when young, then moderate. |
Range: |
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Eastern and central United States scattered south to Hernando, Marion, and Lake counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website. |
Habitats: |
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Swamps, flatwoods depressions, floodplain forests. |
Soils: |
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Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic or sandy soils, often with acid pH. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
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Moderate shade to full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Flower Characteristics: |
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Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
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Spring. |
Fruit: |
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Winged samara. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides food and cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus) butterfly. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Comments: |
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We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
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