Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'AUCUBIFOLIA'

Green ash, or red ash, is native to North America from where it spread almost all over Canada and USA except for the hottest southwest. It is a tall, fast growing tree with attractive leaves on which feed North American frogs when fallen down. It was first planted in our country in 1835 and since then escaped from cultivation and shows its invasive tendencies in warmer regions.

Aucubifolia is a unique and rare variety of green ash. It is sought after for its aucuba-like foliage. The pinnate leaves are composed of broadly elliptic to narrowly ovate leaflets with green and yellow marbling similar to that on Japanese spotted laurel. It grows a little slower than the species, still you have to count on a large tree in maturity. The crown is upright first and broadly oval with age, and cast a pleasant, not very deep shape.

Ash can take almost any soil type, it can withstand both drought and temporary water-logging when established but do not plant new trees in boggy soil. Pruning is possible in early spring and it can take hard pruning into old wood for rejuvenation. Fully hardy to at least -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 22-01-2019; 22-08-2022