Pumpkin ash is a large deciduous tree native to scattered populations from New York to Missouri and south to Florida and Louisiana, thriving in the moist, wet conditions of swamps, floodplains, and river valleys. This species matures to 60-80 feet tall, occasionally reaching 125 feet, and develops a narrow open crown over time. Hardy in zones 5-9 and tolerant of clay soils and deer, pumpkin ash serves as an excellent choice for rain gardens and wet landscape restoration. Its insignificant spring flowers appear from April to May, followed by the development of a substantial canopy suited to large properties.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
960in H x 600in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Pumpkin ash thrives in the challenging wet soils where many trees struggle, making it invaluable for rain gardens and floodplain restoration. Native across a vast eastern range from the Mississippi to the Ohio Rivers, this species has deep ecological roots in American wetland ecosystems. Its large stature and ability to handle consistently moist to wet loams give gardeners a powerful option for landscape-scale water management.
Pumpkin ash serves as a native species for rain garden design and wet landscape restoration, particularly in the eastern and central United States. Its natural habitat in floodplains, swamps, and low-lying areas makes it suited to properties with drainage challenges or periodic inundation. The tree provides ecological value in wetland restoration projects and large-scale landscape designs that embrace native species.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Pumpkin ash occurs naturally across a broad native range stretching from New York westward to Missouri and southward through the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys to central Arkansas, Florida, and Louisiana. Though scattered throughout this territory, the species shows strong regional concentration in the bottomlands and swamps that define these major river systems. Its common name likely derives from the rounded form of its seeds or the appearance of its crown, though the exact etymology remains rooted in folk tradition among the regions where it grows most abundantly.”