Black Ash
Fraxinus nigra
Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Genus:
- Fraxinus
- Species:
- Fraxinus nigra
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Purple
Native Range
United States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Adita chionanthi, Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), ⚠️Canadian sphinx (Sphinx canadensis), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), lilac sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae), Papaipema furcata, Splendid Palpita Moth (Palpita magniferalis), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), Winter moth (Operophtera brumata), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), hickory hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, organic soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in swampy areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds require warm stratification followed by cold moist stratification for 60 to 90 days
Source: npn.rngr.net