Ash trees in Europe

I suppose this question is particularly for Resin, but, of course, anyone else please feel free to chime in. Are any of our native American ash species popular in European cultivation? Likewise, what European species of ash are there, and are they worthwhile for cultivated places? Thanks.

Scott

Hi Scott,

The American ashes are all only very rarely planted; you won't find them outside of botanic gardens with special ash collections. Probably because they don't look very different to our native species, yet also don't do so well in the climate here. So there's never been much interest in them. Ditto to Asian ashes.

There's four European natives:

Fraxinus excelsior (Common Ash or European Ash); widespread and abundant (one of the 3 or 4 most abundant native trees in Britain). 25-35m max. I've always thought of it as a rather coarse, drab tree, but some people like it. Distinctive soot-black winter burds (the other species below have brown buds).

Fraxinus angustifolia (Narrow-leaved Ash); southern Europe only. 20-25m max. Two subspecies; F. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia (SW Europe) and F. angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa (SE Europe); they differ a bit in bark pattern and the hairiness of the leaves. Some botanists split F. oxycarpa as a separate species, but generally they're considered conspecific. The cultivar 'Raywood', derived from subsp. oxycarpa, is commonly grown in Britain, but the species is otherwise rarely planted (a pity). 'Raywood' is usually conspicuous for the number of broken branches in the crown (the "Bradford Pear of ashes") but is nice for elegant foliage and good autumn colour.

Fraxinus ornus (Manna Ash); also southern Europe only. More frequently planted in Britain than F. angustifolia, but still fairly scarce, only odd ones in major parks and botanic gardens. 15-23m max. This one flowers after the leaves appear (usuall early June) with conspicuous white flowers (somewhat like a fringetree).

Fraxinus pallisiae; extreme southeastern Europe (also southwest Asia). Very rarely planted (never seen it myself).

I'd doubt that any of them will have any resistance to EAB, as that doesn't occur here.

Resin

Thanks Resin!

Scott

I have never heard long term positive experiences in the Ohio River valley region with any of the European ash species (well described by Resin above), nor from the few times I have planted them. They don't seem well suited to the heat/humidity/high summer soil temperatures. They are quite susceptible to a variety of boring insects as well. This combination translates to a short landscape life.

A clone with yellowish bark known as 'Golden Desert' had some popularity back in the late '80s, and we planted some of these as well as Fraxinus ornus in landscapes we managed. I believe all were deceased within five years. Some of these listed species and/or clones still are occasionally offered, but I'd venture to say that they are more appropriate in cooler summer climates that more closely mimic their European originations.

If you can find it...one of the great "trick your plant geek friends" plants is Fraxinus excelsior 'Hessei'. Like Sorbus alnifolia, it is a simple-leaved form of what is normally a compound-leaved genus.

I think I have spotted an EAB in my yard this past summer. I was thinking of taking it in to the entomology professor, as I thought it looked rather unusual, but I mistakenly thought EAB was much larger. It was only later when someone here posted a link to what exactly it looks like, that I pulled out a ruler and realized with a sickening feeling that this shiny green bug that is no bigger than a bee was exactly what I feared most. Needless to say, there is a huge ash tree in my neighbor's back yard. (yeah Lauren, it's the one growing into the eave of my garage) talk about mixed feelings. We're having quite a time of it, losing so many elms and lots of storm damaged trees, and now this scourge.

Ittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt's already in Illinoiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis and ahead of schedule to boot!

I have a bad feeling that after all of the ash trees are gone the bugs will become more desperate and start attacking other members of the olive family (lilac, forsythia, fringe tree, etc.). Maybe even the dreaded Ligustrum, if I could I be so lucky.

There are many metallic green bugs, most harmless, so don't hit the panic button until you get an absolutely positive ID.

Escambia, I'm wondering the same thing you're wondering. Lilacs, privet, and fringetrees. I've been scanning all the reports from Michigan I gain access to for anything that suggests that this is happening, but nothing so far.

Scott

Privet is one that I read something on somewhere. What a shame if that's next on the EAB menu- not.

John, so I won't panic anyone else, I'll make sure I collect one of the bugs and get a positive ID! I wasn't sure it was more like Aha! and then Oh no! In my (albeit limited) experience, most green metallic bugs are beetles, what is the difference between a beetle and a borer?

A second to Scott, metallic green bugs of same length as EAB much in evidence over summer, but according to experts not what we dread. Gonna be tough on me when they come because ash about the only young and intermediate understory replacement that the deer seem not to prefer. Ken

I meant Scott, sorry. Will all the trees die at once Ken? We have elms just succumbing here to Dutch Elm disease.

Not sure, but I remember someone remarking in an earlier thread on EAB that it's pretty much a scorched earth thing when they come: young/old it takes them all. Drove east through Northern MI, not UP, and much in evidence on freeway median. State crews were just laying them down to rot on the ground. Pretty sad. Ken

OMG. Well then I'm sorry to hit the panic button, it prob was not it.

Did it look like this?

http://www.ars.usda.gov/images/docs/4082_4266/Emerald%20ash%20borer_male.jpg

With the possibility of other speicie s of trees being attacked if their food source is gone, would it not maybe be better to keep collecting the seeds and germinating and growing these trees til a reliable method of bug removal is discovered?

Does anybody know if they have isolated any of these bugs to see what they do when deprived of their normal food. Do they die , do they adjust their internal organs to feed on a new species.

Escambia... Did ya have to mention fringe Tree and Lilac. : ) Just planted a couple hundred seed of the green form of Lorepetalum . And trying to find a beautiful Lilac that will do well down here.

Starlight, I think that the government is collecting and storing ash seed. The hope is that decades from now after all of the EAB's have starved to death they can slowly start to plant it again.

But...if EAB can maintain an existence on lilacs, privet, and fringetree, a low level population will remain, awaiting any new introductions of ash into the landscape.

Scott

Yes Resin it did, but lots of bugs look like that. I will have to get a positive ID from an expert. Also, it is very small, not as big as that picture, that is what threw me.

This message was edited Dec 22, 2006 10:58 PM