green ash / Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima

The green ash is a fast growing and hardy tree that is most commonly found in the prairies. It can often be found in gardens planted as an ornamental. The green ash seeds freely and can naturalize even in urban landscapes, however -like most of our ash- the impacts of Emerald Ash Borer have left it critically endangered. The seeds that this tree provides are a vital food source in the autumn and winter months for quail, wild turkeys, cardinals and finches, as well as squirrels and other rodents. The main difference between green and red ash (which you will find listed as synonyms in some references) is that this tree is almost hairless on places like leaves, twigs and leaf stalks; while the red ash is not. However, they both have hairy buds.

Green ash leaves are opposite and pinnately divided into 5-9 leaflets. They are also compound and exhibit hairless stalks. Photo by Sean Fox.

The trunk of the green ash is straight, measuring 30-50 cm in diameter. The bark tends to be greyish-brown and can sometimes be tinged red. It is also flaky with diamond shaped ridged patterns. Photo by Sean Fox.

These reddish hairy buds are 3-8 mm long. Photo by Sean Fox.

Ontario Tree Atlas map of non-planted Green Ash. 1995-1999.

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References

Farrar, J.L.. 1995. Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd. Toronto. ON. 504 pp.  

Kershaw, L. 2001. Trees in Ontario: Including tall shrubs. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton. AB. 240 pp

Muma, W. 2011. Ontario Trees and Shrubs. [Online] Available: www.ontariotrees.com

OMNR, 2011. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: Ontario Tree Atlas. [Online] Available: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/ClimateChange/2ColumnSubPage/267027.html

OMNR, 2008. Ontario’s Biodiversity: Species at Risk