Green ash is a native North American tree with the broadest natural range of any ash species, stretching from Nova Scotia to Alberta and south to Florida and Texas. This medium-sized tree typically grows 50 to 70 feet tall and 35 to 50 feet wide, thriving in zones 4 through 9 with full sun exposure. Young trees start pyramidal, gradually developing a rounded but often irregular crown as they mature. It's an exceptionally adaptable tree that handles wet soil, urban conditions, and deer pressure with equal ease, making it a reliable choice for shade or street planting.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
840in H x 600in W
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High
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Green ash boasts the widest natural distribution of any native ash, from lowland floodplains to urban streetscapes. Its young pyramidal form transitions beautifully to a mature, rounded silhouette, and once established, it adapts to almost any soil condition despite preferring consistently moist, humus-rich loams. Birds flock to it for shelter and food, and it shrugs off deer browsing, air pollution, and waterlogged soils with remarkable resilience.
Green ash functions as both a shade tree for residential and urban landscapes and as a street tree in municipal plantings. Its ability to tolerate wet soil makes it especially valuable for low-lying areas, floodplain restoration, and riparian plantings where other trees struggle. The tree also attracts birds, providing food and shelter for wildlife in both natural and cultivated settings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune green ash in late winter or early spring while dormant to shape the developing crown and remove crossing or damaged branches. Young pyramidal trees benefit from selective pruning to encourage the transition to a rounded form and to maintain structural strength. Remove any lower limbs as the tree matures if you want to create clearance for pedestrian or vehicular traffic underneath.
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“Green ash evolved across the widest geographic range of any native North American ash species, extending from the cool forests of Nova Scotia and Alberta down to the warm lowlands of Florida and Texas. In its native habitat, it thrives in floodplains, along streams, ponds, and sloughs, making it a tree deeply rooted in the ecological fabric of the continent. Its common name reflects the green coloring of its young twigs, a feature that distinguishes it from its ash relatives. The species has long served as both a ecological anchor in wetland ecosystems and a dependable shade tree for human settlements across its range.”