Blue Ash

The only Eastern USA Fraxinus species that resists EAB. Receives some cold damage but survives Carlton County, MN (warm end of USDA zone...Read More 3b/ cold end of USDA zone 4a). I've seen it growing in the wild around Lansing, MI and in Indianapolis, IN. Partially shade tolerant. Transplants well. I've yet to find a nursery that sells this species.

A few large nurseries northwest and west of Chicago, IL, did grow this species in the 1990's. I planted three in Hinsdale, IL on the hosp...Read Moreital grounds about 1995. One died from transplant shock. The other two did well until the hospital put a huge utility unit in that area, taking out everything. It makes a good shade tree. I like its texture better than the abundant Green Ash or the common White Ash. This species is not just found everywhere, but in an area here and there in its native range of western Ohio to far south Wisconsin to much of Missouri, a little of southeast Kansas, to central Kentucky and Tennessee. It usually grows in upland soils, but can grow in bottomlands, (good for draining wet or dry soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5.) and grows about 1.5 to 2.0 feet/year and lives about 100 to 150 years. There is a wonderful grove of them growing in the alkaline dolomitic limestome soil of Glenwood Park on the east bank of the Fox River, off Rt #25, in Batavia, IL , where I took most of my photos in 2010. The Blue Ashes were still doing well in September 2017 & August 2018 when I last visited, while a few Green Ashes were dead along a creek flowing through the site from the Emerald Ash Borer, so far looking as though there is resistance to the new pest from China. Someone in nearby Bolingbrook, IL, reported some wild ones growing there. Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, has some good specimens I saw in September 2017. The University of Illinois Extension service mentioned to me that they were seeing about 60% survival at some location that they knew of.

Deb McCullough of Michigan State did a study on this tree under pressure from emerald ash borer (that is killing ash at a rate of 100%) t...Read Morehe blue ash, one of our native ash trees is surviving!! We have to plant more of these trees.

Blue ash is one of the longest lived trees for central KY, partnering well with the bur oak and chinkapin oak in the agricultural landsca...Read Morepes around the Bluegrass. This tree ranges far into the upper midwest as well, especially on limestone-based soils.

I agree with the other posts here, and also encourage more planting of this tough tree. It is easy to sprout from seed, and more native plant growers are starting to offer small plants.