Fraxinus or 'Ash' trees

It is so easy to catagorise trees simply and Fraxinus or the 'Ash Trees' are a classic example. The well known 'Claret Ash' is popular, however more species and many cultivars are well worth considering.

Ash trees mage great shade trees, however some are also well suited for use as street trees. The best examples include the Fraxinus ornus cultivars developed in Hungary in the 1980s.

Fraxinus Varieties.

• The European Ash is Fraxinus excelsior, an excellent deciduous tree with good autumn colour. This is a tall growing species reaching up to 40m, also fast growing. Best suited to moist soils Fraxinus excelsior is found in many regions from Wales to Ireland as well as across Europe.
  
  
• It is however Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood' or the Claret Ash that is widely grown as an ornamental tree, smaller growing to around a height of 15 - 20m and with green foliage it is the spectacular crimson red autumn foliage that gives this trees its name. Excellent as a specimen tree in a lawn or in a park setting.
  
  
• Fraxinus ornus is known as the 'Flowering Ash' as well as the 'Manna Ash'. Fragrant creamy white flowers and reaching to around 20m in height. However it is the cultivars such as Fraxinus ornus 'Meczek' with its classic 'Mop Top' crown that is more widely used, especially as a street tree. Reaching around 4m, it rarely needs pruning, is excellent for narrow spaces and small streets and has good autung color as well.
  F.ornus 'Arie Peters' is another smaller cultivar reaching around 10 - 15 m over time. One of the best of the flowering ash cultivars, excellent autmn colors and a good flowering habit.

Fraxinus or 'Ash' trees are available for sale from the following growers

CHEW VALLEY TREES - Tel: 01275 333 752
Winford Road Chew Magna Bristol BS40 8HJ

Tree nursery selling top quality specimen and ornamental bare root and container grown trees, shrubs, hedging and fruit trees. Available wholesale and retail nationwide.