White Ash vs. Green Ash Trees

Ash tree in a field.

All true ash trees, whether green or white, are species of the Fraxinus genus, specifically Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh and Fraxinus americana L., respectively. The Mountain Ash is not a true ash, but rather a member of the Sorbus genus.

Types

There are 18 species of ash trees in North America. They grow fast and are valuable as timber.

Green Ash

Green ash is a medium to large tree that is considered drought resistant and hardy. Green ash trees have rounded crowns and run from 35 to 65 feet tall.

White Ash

White ash is easily grown in a variety of conditions and is often used in park landscaping. It grows quickly and can range from 50 to 80 feet in height.

Comparison

Green ash is somewhat more brittle than white ash; however, both have strong, fairly straight-grained woods.

Differences

Telling white ash and green ash apart can be a real challenge. The woods are similar enough to not really make a difference. The leaf size (green ash is smaller) on mature trees is one way to tell. Another is by the shape of the leaf scars. Green ash leaf scars are half round, whereas the white ash has leaf scars that are deeply notched.

References

• DiscoverLife.org: Fraxinus L. Ashes
• North Dakota State University: Green Ash
• Arbor Day Foundation: White Ash