Native Ash Trees In Minnesota (5 Types To Know)
According to the Minnesota Forest Department, the state has over a billion ash trees. These trees are vital to the ecosystem and are an important part of the state’s natural heritage.
But how well do you know these trees, and why are they so important?
In this article, we’ll look at the five native ash trees in Minnesota, their characteristics, and their significance. From the white ash to the green ash, we will investigate each tree’s distinct characteristics, native habitats, and the structure of its leaves, bark, and so on.
So, let’s get started.
1. Black Ash
- Common Name: Black Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus nigra
- Mature Height: 35 to 75 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter
- Native/Non-Native: Native to North America
- Flowers/Cones: No flowers, twisted fruit with thin wings
- Uses: Excellent material for baskets, hoops, and cabinet making; also used for fence posts
Black Ash is a medium-sized tree that can reach heights of 75 feet. The bark on the elder parts of this tree is grayish and easily rubbed off.
It has a pale green tint to its new growth. Black Ash has opposing leaves with seven to eleven leaflets on its stalk. The terminal bud of the leaf is large and pointed. It has smooth leaves on both sides.
The twisted fruit of Black Ash has slender wings that almost completely encircle the seed portion.
Normally, the seeds germinate and begin to grow the following year. Except in the far west of the state, black ash is fairly common. It grows well in cold, wet environments and along stream banks.
The wood of Black Ash is a medium-dark brown, with lighter sapwood. It is coarse-grained, hefty, and slightly mushy, but it resists soil contact well. It does not have the strength or value of green or white ash.
The tree does not grow rapidly. However, it can be easily divided into thin layers, making it an ideal material for baskets, hoops, and cabinet construction. It is also used to construct fence posts.
2. Green Ash
- Common Name: Green Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata J FORM
- Mature Height: 50 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native to North America
- Flowers/Cones: Flat and winged fruit
- Uses: Commercially valuable wood, ornamental, and farm forest plantings
Green ash is among the medium-sized ash trees in Minnesota that can reach 50 feet in height and have a diameter of 2 feet or more. It has slender branches that extend out to form a spherical top. Green ash bark is dark brown or gray with a red tinge, and it is deeply furrowed or ridged.
Green ash leaves are 10 to 12 inches long and bright green or yellow-green on both sides. They are compound and opposite on the stem, with seven to nine stalked leaflets on the margin of each compound leaf that are pointy and slightly serrated. The leaf shape is different from that of white ash.
Green ash produces flat, winged fruit that measures 1 to 2 1/2 inches in length and 1/4 to 1/2 inches in width. The winged portion appears to be square and extends far beyond the central or seed-bearing portion. Except in the western plains region, trees are common throughout the state, with the greatest concentrations in valleys and along streams. They are Minnesota’s best and most abundant ashes.
Green ash wood is heavy, hard, robust, brittle, and coarse-grained. It is commercially valuable and light brown with a thick coating of lighter sapwood.
Green ash performs the same functions as white ash and is widely used in aesthetic and agricultural forest plantings. The tree grows rapidly and can withstand harsh soil and climate conditions. It can also be grown quickly from seed.
3. Red Ash
- Common Name: Red Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus pensylvanica
- Mature Height: 40 to 60 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Flowers appear late in spring as leaves begin to unfold
- Uses: Similar to those of the more valuable white ash
The Red Ash is a tall and stately tree that can grow to be 60 feet tall. It has a dense branch structure that results in a compact irregularly shaped head.
Red Ash leaves are compound, which means that each leaf is made up of 7 to 9 rectangular leaflets that can grow to be up to 12 inches long in total.
At the apex, the leaflets gradually shorten into a long, slender tip that is not symmetrical at the base. The leaf is light yellowish-green above and paler below, with a prominent center rib and branching veins. Before dropping, the leaves turn yellow or rusty brown.
The trunk bark is grayish-brown and heavily ridged, but not as harsh as that of white ash.
Winged fruits grow in clusters on the Red Ash tree. The fruit can reach a length of 2.5 inches and a width of one-third of an inch. The seed is placed near the wing’s base.
The Red Ash is a native Minnesota plant that grows mostly on low terrain throughout the state. It is less common than Green Ash.
Red ash wood is heavy, robust, strong, brittle, coarse-grained, and light brown, with thicker, lighter brown sapwood stained with yellow.
4. White Ash
- Common Name: White Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
- Mature Height: 50 to 90 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Winged fruit with a seed towards the handle end
The White Ash tree is a huge deciduous tree native to North America. With an average height of 50 to 90 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2 feet, it is one of the tallest ash trees in Minnesota.
These trees have stout, straight branches that produce a thin crown and, with enough space, a round-topped or pyramidal head in the forest.
White Ash leaves are compound and opposite on the stem, with 5 to 9 (typically 8) conspicuously stalked, sharp pointed leaflets. They are dark green and smooth on top and pale green or whitish on the bottom. The leaf measures 8 to 10 inches long.
The bark of the White Ash is dark and practically smooth on young twigs and branches, greenish-brown on older trees, and narrow ridges are divided by deep diamond-shaped cracks with marked regularities.
The White Ash fruit is winged and shaped like a canoe paddle blade, with the seed at the handle end. The seeds mature in autumn and are effectively dispersed by the wind.
White Ash grows best in rich, moist soil and is only found in the state’s southern corner. Its wood is light brown, close-grained, hefty, robust, and elastic, making it chosen over all other natural woods for tool handles and athletic and sporting equipment.
It’s also used to make agricultural tools, furniture, interior finishes, posts, ties, fuel, and ornaments. Its relatively quick growth makes it ideal for farm forest plantings.
5. Mountain Ash
- Common Name: Mountain Ash
- Scientific Name: Sorbus americana
- Mature Height: 20 to 30 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Bright orange berries
- Uses: Ornamental purposes and medicinal qualities of inner bark
Mountain Ash is one of the shortest ash trees in Minnesota. It is a tiny tree or shrub that can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet and has thin branches that form a narrow, round-topped head.
It has a smooth, light gray surface that is randomly broken by small, plate-like scales and is roughly an inch thick. The leaves are complex and 6 to 8 inches long, with 13 to 17 leaflets that have a long tip and toothed margins. Above, the leaflets are brilliant green and turn bright yellow in the fall.
The Mountain Ash’s true star are its bright orange berries, which are roughly the size of a pea and have a thin covering of sour flesh. These berries enhance the tree’s beauty and attract birds and other creatures.
Mountain Ash trees are endemic to northern Minnesota and can be found as far south as Pine and Mille Lacs Counties in the forests. They thrive best in damp environments, but can also be found in drier places and on thinner soils.
Mountain Ash wood is light, delicate, and weak, with a pale brown color and light sapwood. It has an extremely close grain due to its delayed growth.
Except for decorative purposes and the therapeutic properties of its inner bark, it has no commercial worth. Native Americans used mountain ash for medical uses such as curing sore throats and stomach ailments.
Ash Trees In Minnesota – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ash trees are one of the tree species whose populations are constantly declining due to the emerald ash borer. This has caused many tree enthusiasts to have doubts and questions about them.
In this section, I will be answering some of these questions related to ash trees in Minnesota and nearby regions.
Do ash trees grow in Minnesota?
Ash trees do grow in Minnesota, and they are very common. Black Ash, Green Ash, Red Ash, White Ash, and Mountain Ash are the five native varieties found in the state.
Where are ash trees found in Minnesota?
Although ash trees can be found throughout Minnesota, they are most common in the state’s southern and central regions. Green ash and white ash, in particular, are common in Minnesota and can be found in urban and suburban areas, as well as forests and woodlands.
How many ash trees are there in Minnesota?
According to the official forestry report, there are currently over a billion ash trees in Minnesota. This is a total of all native and non-native naturalized variants.
Are ash trees in Minnesota affected by the ash borer?
Similar to other states, ash trees in Minnesota are also affected by the emerald ash borer. EAB larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients and eventually killing it. The EAB was discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and has since spread throughout the state. As a result, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has enacted quarantines and regulations in order to prevent the spread of the EAB and protect ash trees.
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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.
- Minnesota’s Native Trees, Department Of Natural Sciences, Minnesota State.
- Forestry Division, Minnesota State.
- Yard And Garden, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Native Plants, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Select Trees And Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Trees and shrubs for pollinators, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Department Of Agriculture, Minnesota State.
