Selecting Landscape Plants: Shade Trees

White ash (Fraxinus americana)

Large trees

• Maximum height
  80 feet
• Relative growth rate
  Good
• Freedom from insect pests
  Poor
• Freedom from disease problems
  Good
• Resistance to storm damage
  Good
• Will grow on poorly drained soil
  Good
• Will grow in hot, dry areas
  Poor
• Easy to transplant
  Good
• Withstands city conditions
  Good

White ash does not grow as fast as green ash, but it will eventually become a larger tree. It develops a purple fall color that is rather unique. Seedless varieties of white ash such as ‘Rosehill' or ‘Autumn Purple' should be planted in preference to the standard varieties. Emerald ash borer, an exotic pest from Asia may eventually limit the usefulness of green and white ash in Missouri.