4 Common Ash Trees In Wisconsin (Photos & Identification)
Common ash trees, such as white ash and green ash, dominate Wisconsin’s woodlands and urban areas. These trees are well-known for their height, attractive foliage, and hardwood.
However, the emerald ash borer is posing a serious threat to these once-thriving ash trees. This invasive beetle has decimated ash populations throughout North America, including Wisconsin. Scientists, arborists, and decision-makers in Wisconsin are taking action to preserve common ash trees as a result of the destruction this destructive insect has caused.
If you have some space in your backyard, you can plant some of these majestic trees and contribute to the state’s conservation efforts.
So, to make everything easy for you we got everything covered related to the common ash trees in Wisconsin.
Let’s, get started.
1. White Ash
- Common Name: White Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
- Mature Height: 70 to 90 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Samara fruit
- Uses: Tool handles, sports equipment, furniture, fuel, ornamental purposes
]White Ash trees are one of the most commonly found ash trees in Wisconsin. They are majestic trees that can grow to be 70 to 90 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. Some trees, though, can grow considerably larger.
The limbs of this tree are strong and upright, forming a thin crown in the forest. If given enough room, it can also form a round-topped or pyramidal head.
On mature trees, this tree has a distinctive grayish-brown bark that is quite thick. Deep, diamond-shaped cracks split the tiny ridges on the bark with remarkable regularity.
It has compound leaves that are opposite on the stem and have 5 to 9 stalked sharp-pointed leaflets. The leaflets range in length from 3 to 5 inches and contain smooth to rounded teeth along the borders. It has dark green leaves that are smooth on top and pale green or yellowish on the bottom, with a crescent-shaped scar that extends up the edges of emerging buds.
The White Ash bears a samara fruit that is about 1-1/4 inch long, clustered, and rounded in cross-section. Its seeds ripen in the autumn of the first year. This tree can be found throughout the state in a variety of habitats, but it is most commonly found in fertile, well-drained areas.
White Ash wood is light brown, close-grained, hefty, robust, and elastic. It is preferred over all other natural woods for tool handles, sporting goods, and agricultural instruments. The wood is also used for interior furniture finishes, posts, ties, fuel, and ornamentation.
2. Black Ash
- Common Name: Black Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus nigra
- Mature Height: 50 to 75 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Produces samaras, a type of fruit with a flattened seed and a broad wing that nearly surrounds it.
Black ash is a medium-sized tree that may grow up to 75 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. It can be found throughout the United States. It creates an open crown of narrow, erect branches in the forest, making it simple to distinguish.
On older areas of the tree, the bark of the black ash is grayish, furrowed, and divided into thin scales that can easily be rubbed off. White lenticels appear on the lower trunk and roots as well, assisting the tree in exchanging gases with the environment.
The leaves of the black ash are compound and opposite on the stem, with 7 to 11 leaflets. Except for the terminal leaflet, the leaflets are rectangular, tapering to a tip, and are not stalked. The leaflets’ margins are similarly finely serrated, and the terminal bud is big and pointed.
The black ash’s fruit is a samara, which is similar to all ashes except for the thin wing that nearly surrounds the flattened seed. The wing is wider than that of white or green ash, and the apex is notched.
Black ash is found across the state, but it is most prevalent in cold, damp areas and near stream banks. It is commonly found with black spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, and tamarack.
Black ash wood is dark brown, with sapwood that is lighter in color, coarse-grained, and hefty. It is not as strong or precious as green or white ash, but it may be easily divided into thin layers and used to make baskets, hoops, and other crafts. It is also used to make cabinets and fence posts.
3. Green Ash
- Common Name: Green Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata
- Mature Height: 50 to 60 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Samaras
- Uses: Commercial and ornamental plantings
Green Ash, scientifically known as Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata, is a multipurpose tree that can grow to be 50 to 60 feet tall and 2 feet or more in diameter. It has a strong, upright stem and branches that form a circular crown.
Green Ash is a native tree that can be found growing along stream banks, floodplains, and wet upland locations throughout the state. It can grow alone or in conjunction with box elder and red maple.
A mature Green Ash’s bark is roughly 1/2 inch thick and dark brown or gray tinted with crimson. Furrowed bark with flat, scaly ridges. The leaves are compound and opposite on the stem, with seven to nine stalked leaflets on each compound leaf. The leaflets are 3 to 5 inches long, with a pointed apex and a slightly toothed edge.
Green Ash differs from White Ash by having semicircular to crescent-shaped leaf scars that extend to the root of a new bud.
The Green Ash tree produces samaras, which are born in clusters on the tree. The fruit measures about 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches long and 1/4 to 1/3 inches wide, with the winged portion spreading well past the middle of the flattened seed-bearing component. The apex of the wing is slightly notched, and seeds mature in the fall of the first year.
Green Ash wood is heavy, hard, robust, brittle, and coarse-grained, with a light brown color. It features a thick coating of lighter sapwood and is used for the same purposes as White Ash. Green Ash is also often utilized for aesthetic plantings due to its adaptability to a variety of environmental situations.
4. Mountain Ash
- Common Name: Mountain Ash
- Scientific Name: Sorbus americana
- Mature Height: 20 to 30 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Fruit is a pome
- Uses: Berries are used as food by birds
One of the least common ash trees in Wisconsin, Mountain Ash is a shrub or tiny tree that you could come upon while hiking in northern Wisconsin.
It can reach a height of 30 feet and has slender branches that form a small, rounded crown. Mountain Ash bark is light gray and smooth, eventually separating into minute scales.
Mountain Ash has compound leaves, which are made up of tiny leaflets that are crowded together. The tops of the leaves are bright green and turn bright yellow in the fall. Each leaflet has a long point and toothed edges.
Mountain Ash produces a vivid orange fruit called a pome in the fall. The fruit is roughly a quarter-inch in diameter and grows in dense clusters. It develops in the fall of its first season and has a thin coating of sour flesh with 1 to 2 seeds.
Mountain Ash can be seen growing at the edges of lakes and wetlands. It thrives in damp environments but may also live in drier conditions and thinner soils. Mountain Ash wood is light, soft, and fragile, with a close grain. Except for decorative purposes, it has no commercial worth.
Mountain Ash has an intriguing feature in that its berries remain on the tree throughout the winter and offer food for birds.
Common Ash Trees In Wisconsin – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s take a closer look into some of the most frequently asked doubts related to common ash trees in Wisconsin.
Are there ash trees in Wisconsin?
There are ash trees in Wisconsin. The two most common ash tree species in Wisconsin are the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). These trees are native to the state and can be found in a variety of habitats such as forests, woodlands, and river and stream banks. It is important to note, however, that ash trees in Wisconsin and many other parts of North America are currently under threat from the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), which has resulted in the decline and loss of many ash trees in the region. The impact of this invasive pest on ash tree populations is being managed and mitigated.
What percentage of trees in Wisconsin are ash trees?
The northern hardwood, oak-hickory, and bottom-land hardwood forests in Wisconsin contain an estimated 898 million ash trees. When all live trees 1 inch in diameter or larger are counted, ash species account for 7.8% of all trees in Wisconsin’s forests.
However, before the emerald ash borer infestation, ash trees were relatively common in Wisconsin’s forests, woodlands, and urban areas. They were estimated to make up a sizable proportion of the state’s tree population. Because of the rapid spread of the emerald ash borer and the subsequent loss of ash trees, the percentage of ash trees in Wisconsin is likely to have decreased significantly.
What trees can replace ash trees in Wisconsin?
When looking for ash tree alternatives in Wisconsin, there are several viable options to consider. First, oak trees native to the state, such as white oak and red oak, are known for their strength and resilience.
Sugar maple and red maple trees are also popular choices due to their vibrant fall colors and ability to thrive in a variety of soil types. Hackberry trees, which grow similarly to ash trees and tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, are another native option.
Kentucky coffee trees have a distinct appearance with interesting bark and large compound leaves, whereas linden trees have fragrant flowers and thrive in urban areas. Honeylocust trees, which are known for their beautiful foliage, are adaptable and come in thornless varieties.
Consideration of these alternatives will aid in the preservation of a diverse and healthy tree population in Wisconsin, despite the challenges posed by the decline of ash trees due to emerald ash borer infestation.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Tree Planting, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Trees Identification, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Forest Trees Of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Trees of Wisconsin Field Guide, Book by Stan Tekiela
