Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: A pause for appreciation before they go: Fraxinus, 1 by ViburnumValley

ViburnumValley wrote:
White ash (Fraxinus americana) occurs in woodlands, fence lines, and less often as old individuals open grown. It associates with most of the common tree species on calcareous soils around KY, including hackberry, black cherry, walnut, ash, oak, hickory, sugar maple, and coffee tree. Sporting purples, oranges, and yellows, it is quite showy as one of the early shade trees to begin the fall color cavalcade. White ash tend to spread into several main trunks, forming a broader rounder head than blue ash. Their bark is strongly ridged and furrowed.

White ash is produced by almost every nursery that grows shade trees, with many selections made in the eastern US. 'Autumn Purple' is so ubiquitous that most purchasers don't know it as a white ash, but as a purple ash. Tough in the landscape, it has been used formally as a street tree and massed in large landscapes. This clone (and several others) is one of the most reliable shade trees for fall color every year.

This tree has had many commercial uses. Locally, the Hillerich & Bradsby Company make their famous Louisville Slugger bats from its wood. Tool handles are made from ash, and the handsome broad board flooring of the two hundred year old house in which I grew up. It is valuable firewood as well, which is most likely how the EAB insect is moving so rapidly from the initial point of documented infestation in Michigan to the various adjoining states.

It is easy to germinate seedlings. The various clones are budded/grafted on seedling understock. White ash is very easy to transplant, and establishes pretty quickly. It is well-represented in all landscapes due to the colorful clones.