Practical
Plants

Fraxinus nigra

Black Ash

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Oleaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
25 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

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 diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative[9]. They should be gathered in June, well dried and stored in airtight containers[9]. The inner bark has been used as a tonic for the liver and stomach, to check vaginal discharge and to treat painful urination[8]. An infusion of the inner bark has been used as an eye wash for sore eyes[8].

Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

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

Logs of wood can be beaten with mauls to separate the growth layers, these layers can then be cut into strips and woven into baskets[8]. A blue dye can be obtained from the bark[8]. Wood - not strong, rather soft, durable, heavy, tough, coarse-grained, easily separated into thin layers. It weighs 39lb per cubic foot. Largely used for making furniture, cabinet making, interior finish and veneer[11][12][14][3][6][7]. The wood makes a good fuel, it does not crackle or shoot sparks like many other woods[8]. If the wood is soaked in water and then pounded, it separates easily into thin sheets[5]. These sheets have then been used to make woven baskets, barrel hoops, chair seats etc[5].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
North-eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Virginia and Iowa.
Habitat
Deep cold swamps, river banks and shores, tolerating some standing water[10][14][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
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[13]. It usually germinates in the spring[13]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and is best sown as soon as possible in a cold frame[4]. 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.

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][4]. Most members of this genus are gross feeders and require a rich soil[2][4]. A plant of swamps in the wild, in Britain this species requires a moist to wet soil[4]. It succeeds when growing in exposed positions[4] and also in alkaline soils[2]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution[4]. A moderate to slow-growing tree in the wild[6], it is not a great success in Britain, where it is often damaged by late frosts[2]. This species is closely related to F. mandschurica[4]. Trees can bear hermaphrodite flowers, separate male and female flowers, or flowers of one sex only[6].

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

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  5. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2

  6. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  14. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

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