{"id":8026,"date":"2026-07-26T10:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T17:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/learn-how-to-grow-and-care-for-ash-trees\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T10:53:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T17:53:11","slug":"learn-how-to-grow-and-care-for-ash-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/learn-how-to-grow-and-care-for-ash-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn How to Grow and Care for Ash Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Species and Cultivars<\/h2>\n

Before you pick a species and start planting, be aware that if you live in a region where the emerald ash borer (EAB) is a problem (more on this below), you might not want to plant an ash at all.<\/p>\n

Some municipalities and states are requesting that gardeners do not plant new ash trees because the chances that they will just end up as a host to the pest and help it spread is extremely high.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you really want to be able to grow ash, pick one that isn\u2019t susceptible to EAB.<\/p>\n

Note that mountain ashes (Sorbus ameriana<\/em> and S. aucuparia<\/em>) are not true ash trees.<\/p>\n

They are usually a bit smaller than Fraxinus<\/em> species and they produce red berries that birds love.<\/p>\n

If you want an option that looks similar to ash but won\u2019t succumb to EAB, these are good choices.<\/p>\n

If you live in an area that isn\u2019t troubled by EAB or you want to give it a go, here are some excellent options:<\/p>\n

American<\/h3>\n

The American or white ash (F. americana<\/em>) is highly susceptible to EAB, but if you\u2019re lucky enough to live somewhere where borers aren\u2019t a problem, it\u2019s a gorgeous species.<\/p>\n

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It grows to about 90 feet tall in the right conditions, but typically stays smaller in home gardens.<\/p>\n

This species has even been known to grow up to 120 feet tall, making it the largest of the Fraxinus<\/em> genus in North America.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so popular that many beautiful cultivars have been produced by breeders.<\/p>\n

For example, \u2018Autumn Blaze\u2019 has vibrant purple fall foliage and \u2018Jeffnor\u2019 is much stronger than the species so it\u2019s less likely to be invaded by EAB.<\/p>\n

Black<\/h3>\n

Before we talk about black ashes (F. nigra<\/em>), it\u2019s important to note that they are highly susceptible to EAB so not a good option for those in infested areas.<\/p>\n

Black ash grows indigenously throughout the cool regions of eastern North America. The trees reach about 65 feet tall with a rounded shape.<\/p>\n

The bark is particularly attractive. It\u2019s thick and corky with lots of fissures.<\/p>\n

Green<\/h3>\n

While green ashes (F. pennsylvanica<\/em>) are highly susceptible to EAB, if you don\u2019t live in an area where the pest is a concern, they make a gorgeous addition to the garden.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

This species can grow to a towering 70 feet tall and half as wide in Zones 4 to 9.\u00a0Found throughout eastern North America, it\u2019s adaptable to a range of growing conditions.<\/p>\n

There are many cultivars available. Urbanite\u00ae has a pyramidal shape with compact foliage that turns bronze in the fall.<\/p>\n

It can reach up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide and has exceptionally thick bark.<\/p>\n

\u2018Marshall\u2019 has an oval shape and grows to 50 feet tall and about 40 feet wide.<\/p>\n

Since all cultivars are male, you won\u2019t have to worry about messy seeds. In the fall, the foliage changes to a brilliant yellow.<\/p>\n

\u2018Patmore\u2019 is another male cultivar, so it produces no seeds.<\/p>\n

Similar to \u2018Marshall,\u2019 it has a pyramidal to round shape, but \u2018Patmore\u2019 grows just a bit taller and wider, with slightly darker leaves that turn a similar yellow in the fall.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Patmore\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was grown from a sport of a tree discovered on a street in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada.<\/p>\n

You can find \u2018Patmore\u2019 available at Fast Growing Trees<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Manchurian<\/h3>\n

Manchurian (F. mandschurica<\/em>)\u00a0has a low susceptibility to EAB, so it\u2019s becoming an increasingly popular ornamental option in North America.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Wikimedia Commons, via CC BY-SA<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Originally from eastern Asia, it has smooth bark and grows up to 50 feet tall with a lovely rounded shape.<\/p>\n

The fall foliage is particularly noteworthy, turning a bright yellow hue. It does best in cooler regions and won\u2019t do well in hot, humid conditions.<\/p>\n

Manna or Flowering<\/h3>\n

Manna (F. ornus<\/em>) stands apart from other species because it has large, white, fragrant flowers that look like little clouds hovering around the tree.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

With the flowers follow oversized clusters of seeds, so don\u2019t plant this one near a patio.<\/p>\n

This species has low susceptibility to EAB and grows to about 50 feet tall with a nice, rounded habit.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/h2>\n

Try to avoid pruning your tree, as this leaves it open to invasion by pests or pathogens. That said, if there is a broken, dead, or diseased branch, it should definitely be removed.<\/p>\n

When you cut off branches, cut close to the trunk or main branch and avoid leaving a stump behind.<\/p>\n

Cut at a slight angle so the bottom of the cut aligns with the branch collar, which is a lump at the base of the branch. The top of the cut should be flush with the trunk or main branch.<\/p>\n

Propagation<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s possible to grow ash trees from cuttings, but this method is extremely difficult and unreliable, and not really worth the time and effort.<\/p>\n

They are easy to grow from seed, but the easiest way to get started is to transplant a sapling from the nursery.<\/p>\n

From Seed<\/h3>\n

Seeds from some ash species need a period of cold, known as stratification, and others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Take a clue from the environment that the species grows in naturally.<\/p>\n

If the tree is native to a region with long, cold winters, stratify the seeds by placing them in moist sand in the refrigerator for three months.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting.<\/p>\n

Sow a few seeds in a container filled with potting medium. The pot should ideally be one or two gallons in size. We sow multiple seeds in a pot because some won\u2019t germinate.<\/p>\n

Place the pot outdoors in full sun. You might want to place mesh or chicken wire over the pot to protect the seeds from marauding birds or squirrels.<\/p>\n

Keep the soil moist at all times.<\/p>\n

It can take the seeds up to 18 months to germinate. If you don\u2019t see anything growing within two years, it\u2019s likely that the seeds aren\u2019t viable.<\/p>\n

After germination, remove smaller seedlings so that there is just one per pot.<\/p>\n

When the seedling reaches about six inches tall, transplant it into the ground.<\/p>\n

Transplanting<\/h3>\n

Nursery saplings and seedlings can go into the ground in spring or fall.<\/p>\n

Dig a hole the size of the growing container, or just a bit wider than the pot, but the same depth.<\/p>\n

Remove the plant from its container and gently tease out the roots so they\u2019ll grow away from the trunk rather than in a circle.<\/p>\n

Place the tree in the ground at the same height as it was in the containers. Fill in around it with the soil you removed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n