Fraxinus quadrangulata Leaf (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Late spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 25m
Eventual Spread: 17m
Hardiness: 4b – 8b
Family: Oleaceae
Fraxinus quadrangulata is a medium sized deciduous tree with a narrow, rounded crown. Its mid green leaves are opposite, odd pinnate, with up to 11 leaflets. Its leaflets are lanceolate with serrulate margins, up to 13cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow before they fall in autumn. Its twigs typically has four corky ridges, making the twigs square in cross section. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its bark is light grey/ brown, developing irregular fissures and scaly ridges with age. Its pale purple/ green flowers are small, appear in panicles and appear before its leave. Its fruit is a sumara which is up to 5cm long and 1cm broad.
Fraxinus quadrangulata (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Fraxinus quadrangulata, commonly known as the Blue Ash, is native to the United States, mostly in the mid west. In its native habitat it usually grows over limestone on moist slopes and valleys. Historically, the early settlers to the United states use the inner bark of this tree as a blue dye.
The etymological root of the binomial name Fraxinus is from the ancient Latin name for the Ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior). Quadrangulata is derived from the Latin quadra meaning ‘four’ and angulatus meaning ‘cornered’, in reference to its twigs square cross section.
The landscape architect may find Fraxinus quadrangulata useful as a parkland tree with attractive autumn color. Male trees will require less maintenance as the female tree will produce a lot of seed.
Ecologically, Fraxinus quadrangulata is attractive to birds and mammals for its seed.
Fraxinus quadrangulata Bark (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Fraxinus quadrangulata prefers moist, deep, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It is tolerant of poorly drained soils.
Fraxinus quadrangulata requires little maintenance.