Fraxinus bungeana (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 5m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Oleaceae
Fraxinus bungeana is a large deciduous shrub with a rounded habit. Its mid green leaves are opposite, odd pinnate, up to 15cm long with up to 7 leaflets. Its leaflets are ovate with serrulate margins, up to 5cm long and 3cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow to purplish in autumn before its leaves fall. Its hermaphrodite cream/ white flowers are produced in dense terminal panicles which are up to 9cm long and wind pollinated. Its fruit is a sumara which is up to 5cm long, they are initially green ripening to brown.
Fraxinus bungeana Flower (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Fraxinus bungeana, commonly known as Bunge Flowering Ash or Xiao Ye Qin, is native to north east China. In its native habitat it grows on dry sandy soils in woodland communities.
The etymological root of the binomial name Fraxinus is from the ancient Latin name for this tree. Bungeana is named after Aleksandr Andreevic Bunge (1803–1890), a Ukrainian physician
and botanist.
The landscape architect may find Fraxinus bungeana useful as a large attractive early summer flowering shrub. This shrub is tolerant of urban pollution.
Ecologically, Fraxinus bungeana is of little value to UK wildlife.
Fraxinus bungeana Leaf (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Fraxinus bungeana prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. This shrub is tolerant of very alkali soils.
Fraxinus bungeana requires little maintenance.
