Green Ash

Green Ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Green Ash, the most widely distributed of all the American ashes, is a native dioecious tree that can be found throughout most of North America. It is extremely hardy and common along plains watercourses and moist bottomlands. For that reason, it is also often called swamp ash or water ash, as well as red ash. It can reach heights of up to 21 m (70 ft) and 0.5 m (2 ft) in diameter.

The X marks on the bark are characteristic.

With a tolerance for flooded and wet soil, in addition to a fast rate of growth, green ash is often used for city street tree planting pits. The fruit, called samara, are one seed with light colored wings. They are consumed by mammals and birds alike, and the twigs and foliage are common deer browse. The wood is used for furniture as well as athletic equipment. One of the main issues green ash, and other ash trees, face is the threat of the emerald ash borer, accidentally introduced from Asia in 2002.  While still mostly confined to the northeast and upper Midwest, the emerald ash borer is spreading.