Fraxinus excelsior Ash (Oleaceae) Deciduous tree

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Fraxinus excelsior
Ash
Deciduous tree
(1 Page of 5)

The Fraxinus excelsior plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Oleaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Ash.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Fraxinus excelsior
Common Name:  Ash
Family:  Oleaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  Poisonous to ruminants[76], it has also caused dermatitis in some people[76].

Mature Height:  30   Mature Width:  20

Habitat:  Forming woods on calcareous soils in the wetter parts of Britain, also in oakwoods, scrub, hedges etc[17]. It is also often found on acid soils[17].

General Uses: A green dye is obtained from the leaves[7]. The bark s a source of tannin[4]. A tying material can be obtained from the wood[6] (does this mean the bark?). Very tolerant of extreme exposure and relatively fast growing, though often windshaped in exposed positions, it can be grown as a shelterbelt tree[49, 200]. However, it is late coming into leaf and also one of the first trees to lose its leaves in the autumn and this makes it less suitable in a shelter belt. Wood - hard, light, flexible, strong, resilient. A very valuable wood, it is much used for tool handles, oars, furniture, posts etc[4, 6, 7, 13, 46, 66]. An excellent fuel, burning well even when green[6]. There is some doubt over how well the green wood burns with several people claiming that it needs to be properly seasoned[K].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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