Ash, Black

Here we have the Black Ash, or Fraxinus nigra, or as George Washington called it, the Hoop Ash. Due to the wood's tendency to split along growth rings, it is ideal for sturdy basket making, therefore the Black Ash also got the name Basket Ash. This medium-sized tree typically reaches heights of 60 feet. It is slow-growing and relatively short-lived, usually not exceeding 150 years old. Preferring swampy woods, the Black Ash is less common than the White or Green Ash. Its bark is smooth and beige, with a spongy texture in younger trees. The tree's standout feature is its flowers, appearing in April before the leaves, which have dark purple anthers. The dark green finely toothed leaves that follow contain 7 to 11 leaflets. The fruit is flat with a continuous wing along its entire length, broader than other ash fruit, and about 1 and a 1/2 inches long. These seeds serve as a valuable food source for wildlife in the northern United States.