Practical
Plants

Fraxinus excelsior

Ash

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Fraxinus genus in the family Oleaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Oleaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
30 m
Spread
20 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Poisonous to ruminants[22], it has also caused dermatitis in some people[22].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Immature seed - usually pickled by steeping in salt and vinegar, and then used as a condiment for other foods[9][23][20][7]. The leaves are sometimes used as an adulterant for tea[9][6][7]. A manna is obtained from the tree[7]. No further details are given. An edible oil similar to sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oil is obtained from the seed[21].

Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are astringent, cathartic, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, laxative and purgative[16][21][25][3][11][4][14]. The have been used as a laxative, making a mild substitute for senna pods[14]. The leaves should be gathered in June, well dried and stored in airtight containers[16]. The bark is antiperiodic, astringent and a bitter tonic[16][13]. Little used in modern herbalism, it is occasionally taken in the treatment of fevers[14]. The seeds, including their wings, have been used as a carminative[16]. They will store for 12 months if gathered when ripe[16].

Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A green dye is obtained from the leaves[21]. The bark is a source of tannin[16]. A tying material can be obtained from the wood[19] (does this mean the bark?). Very tolerant of extreme exposure and relatively fast growing, though often windshaped in exposed positions, it can be grown as a shelterbelt tree[18][10]. However, it is late coming into leaf and also one of the first trees to lose its leaves in the autumn and this makes it less suitable in a shelter belt. Wood - hard, light, flexible, strong, resilient. A very valuable wood, it is much used for tool handles, oars, furniture, posts etc[16][19][21][3][17][20]. An excellent fuel, burning well even when green[19]. There is some doubt over how well the green wood burns with several people claiming that it needs to be properly seasoned[K].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
String
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain south of latitude 64°, to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat
Forming woods on calcareous soils in the wetter parts of Britain, also in oakwoods, scrub, hedges etc[5]. It is also often found on acid soils[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is best harvested green - as soon as it is fully developed but before it has fully dried on the tree - and can then be sown immediately in a cold frame[24]. It usually germinates in the spring[24]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and is best sown as soon as possible in a cold frame[10]. Approximately 5% of stored seed will germinate in the first year, the remainder germinating in the second year[8]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions or a nursery bed in late spring or early summer of the following year. If you have sufficient seed then it is possible to sow it directly into an outdoor seedbed, preferably in the autumn. Grow the seedlings on in the seedbed for 2 years before transplanting either to their permanent positions or to nursery beds. Cuttings of mature wood, placed in a sheltered outdoor bed in the winter, sometimes strike.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep loamy soil, even if it is on the heavy side[1][10]. Most members of this genus are gross feeders and require a rich soil[2][10]. Plants can succeed in very exposed positions, including maritime exposure, though they can become wind-shaped[18]. Thrives in alkaline soils[2] but not in shallow soils over chalk. Tolerates a pH as low as 4.5, but prefers a base-rich soil above 5.5[8]. Trees are surprisingly tolerant of seasonally water-logged soils[8]. Dislikes dryness at the roots, especially in late spring[8]. Very intolerant of shade, young plants fail to develop properly in such a position and often die. Although the dormant plant is very cold-hardy, the young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. A fast growing tree, it is sometimes cultivated for its valuable timber. Very tolerant of cutting, ash was also at one time frequently coppiced for its wood[8]. However, modern use of plastics have reduced its economic values. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. Trees have a light canopy and cast little shade[8]. A food plant for many insect species, there are 41 associated insect species[12][15]. Trees can be male, female, monoecious or hermaphrodite, they can also change sex from year to year[2]. Trees take 30 - 40 years to flower from seed[8]. The flowers are produced on one-year old wood[21]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  12. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  18. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩1↩2

  19. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩1↩2

  21. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  22. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩1↩2

  23. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

  24. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  25. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

Edit this page