To put its damage in perspective, the number of chestnuts killed by the chestnut blight was around 3.5 billion chestnut trees while there are 3.5 billion ash trees in Ohio alone. Another advantage of this wood is that, it can be bend easily without breaking, and is light too. The wood is also favorable for furniture and flooring. Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The wood is very strong and used for a variety of uses including baseball bats and garden handles. [23] To put its damage in perspective, the number of chestnuts killed by the chestnut blight was around 3.5 billion chestnut trees while there are 3.5 billion ash trees in Ohio alone. For more information and current conditions on EAB infestation see the UK Entomology Department's online resources at. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. White ash is one of the most used trees for everyday purposes and, to keep up with high demand, is cultivated almost everywhere possible. The inner bark is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and strongly laxative. [22], The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), also commonly known by the acronym EAB, is a green beetle native to Asia. This site was last updated on November 19, 2020. White ash has the most spectacular fall color of all the ashes. The lower sides of the leaves of white ash are lighter in color than their upper sides, and the outer surface of the twigs of white ash may be flaky or peeling. White Ash has excellent shock resistance, and along with hickory (Carya spp. Its wood is also valued for making veneer and furniture. The white ash genus name, Fraxinus, is from the Latin name for the Old World ash species. It's also used quite often to create sporting equipment such as oars, baseball bats and hockey sticks. Removes Stains from Concrete. Click here, then click on your county either on the map or from the list of counties below it. Beyond its landscape value, the tree has made its mark as the wood used to make baseball bats. Fire Control. Of the North American ash species, white ash is the most valuable. White ash exhibits a little more resistance to the EAB than green ash, which has nearly no resistance; however this could also possibly be due to white ash not being used in landscaping as extensively or placed in high-stress environments. [4][5][6], There are an estimated 8 billion ash trees in the United States – the majority being the white ash trees and the green ash trees. The damage of this insect rivals that of chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease. Overview Information Ash is a tree. [11][12] The White Ash's compound leaves usually have 7 leaflets per leaf whereas other ash trees are usually more diverse.[13]. The emerald ash borer (EAB) has become a serious problem in Kentucky. It is easy to transplant and numerous cultivars have been developed, including seedless (male) forms. ‘Autumn Blaze' - A female tree selected for purple fall color and light fruit set. Medicinal use of White Ash: The bark is astringent, emmenagogue and a bitter tonic. Although durable to exposure from the elements, it won't, however, weather as well as white oak in outdoor projects. Its prized wood is strong and resilient but light in weight. At this time it is difficult to recommend white ash as a landscape tree unless the homeowner has a plan to treat trees with preventative measures. Other taxonomists argue that Biltmore ash is its own species (Fraxinus biltmoreana). Its hardness and coarse grain make it difficult to work. The main types of ash wood you will come across in building, construction and for general human use is wood from the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the black ash (Fraxinus nigra).There are other species of ash tree as well, including European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Carvers and woodturners view white ash the same as red oak. Woodworkers use the timber mainly for interior uses due to high perishability in contact with ground soil. It has also been used as a wash to treat skin sores, itches and vermin on the scalp. Its species produces an ideal, atypical dominant excurrent structured crown. The airiness of its dark green foliage contrasted with the white undersides of its leaves creates a nice shade. Ash belongs to the olive family and consequently has some unlikely relatives such as forsythia, privet, fringetree, lilac and olive. [21] Species such as red maple, which are taking the place of ash due to the ash borer, are much less suitable for the frogs as a food source — resulting in poor frog survival rates and small frog sizes. 2007. https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/entfact/kentucky-emerald-ash-borer-eab-res... ‘Autumn Applause' - A seedless male with maroon fall color. This fungus is, for the most part, fatal, both directly and indirectly, by weakening the tree's immune system so that it is more susceptible to attacks from pests or pathogens. [7][8][9][10], The name white ash derives from the glaucous undersides of the leaves. An infusion is used to promote menstruation. Female white ash trees bear an abundance of winged seeds that can become invasive and weedy. WARNING: Some websites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the University of Kentucky. It sometimes has been planted for its consistently reliable autumn colors, which typically are bright orange and red hues as opposed to other species of ash that produce a uniform yellow color. It is said that, it requires a very high pressure to break this wood, which is dense with straight grains. After its introduction in 1956, it quickly became the most popular and most expensive landscaping selection, surpassing the high priced Ginkgo, London Plane & White/Burr Oak. In past it was assumed, once any symptoms had started to show, or once a tree had become infested, it was likely too late to begin management. Varieties of ash from outside North America typically have much higher tannin levels and resist the borer. Apart from its ornamental uses, the white ash tree is highly valued for its wood, that is tough and strong. In North America, the EAB is an invasive species, highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range. [19][20], North American native ash tree species are used by North American frogs as a critical food source, as leaves that fall from the trees are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water sources. The driveway’s dark asphalt will mask the ash’s color, and the ash’s absorbing properties should allow you to sweep up the spill afterwards. 8. The eggs are dipped into the mixture until they have a thick coating, and it helps prolong their life. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. This cultivar is tolerant of lime soil. N-318 Ag Sciences Center University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0091, Fax (Lexington): 859-257-2859 (Princeton): 270-365-2667, For questions about home gardening, landscaping or commercial horticulture production, please contact your county extension agent. White ash seed attracts several bird species, including finches, cardinals, grosbeaks, grouse, turkey and quail. The damage of this insect rivals that of chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease. The 95-foot national champion is in Palisades, N.Y. 18. They use wood ash, lime, cooked rice, clay, and salt. It has killed at least 50 million ash trees so far and threatens to kill most of the ash trees throughout North America. It is a traditional timber of choice for production of baseball bats and tool handles. Wound Care. Availability. Carvers and woodturners view white ash the same as red oak. Send mail to cgcass0@uky.edu with questions about this site. Today only on-site professionals diagnosing an individual tree can responsibly make such determinations. Dutch elm disease killed only 200 million elm trees while EAB threatens 7.5 billion ash trees in the United States.