Fraxinus pennsylvanica Cimmaron™

Cimmaron Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Cimmzam') is a deciduous shade tree that reaches about 10m tall and 6m wide, holding a neat upright oval crown without much help from the secateurs. It is a selected male form, so it sets no seed and there are no seedlings to weed out of the garden beds. The foliage turns reddish orange before the leaves drop.

Why you'll love it

• Seedless by selection. Male clones like this one carry no fruit, which removes the self seeding problem that gives ordinary ash trees a bad name.
• Shade in summer, sun in winter. A dense canopy through the hot months, then bare branches that let winter sun reach the windows.
• Reddish orange autumn colour. Reliable seasonal colour in cool and temperate districts, and useful colour even in warmer inland gardens.
• Tough where other trees struggle. Frost hardy, drought and heat tolerant, wind firm and content in poor soil, which is why it is planted as a street tree.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Space 6m to 8m apart for an even avenue. The upright oval crown lifts clear of vehicles and keeps its symmetry without formative pruning.

Shade over lawn and paving. A mature tree covers a seating area or a good part of a back lawn, and the deciduous habit keeps the space usable in winter.

Windbreak planting. On rural blocks, plant 6m apart in a row to filter wind across a paddock or driveway rather than block it.

Growing Cimmaron Ash in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with room for the crown. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens, and it is properly frost hardy. Humid tropical and subtropical gardens are not its country, since it wants a cold winter to go dormant.

Soil. It accepts most soils, including poor and compacted ground, provided water does not sit around the roots. Dig a wide hole rather than a deep one, and mulch 75mm deep out to the drip line, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells once established. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough for a tree of this size.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Remove crossing branches while the tree is young and lift the lower limbs for clearance over a path or driveway. Prune in late winter before the buds move.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a 400mm pot and in 45L, 75L, 100L, 200L and 400L sizes. The 400mm and 45L trees are young, with a straight leader and a light head, and they establish quickly. From 100L upwards you are buying trunk calliper and real height on day one, which is the choice for a driveway where the effect matters now.

Trees are deciduous, so stock supplied in the cooler months arrives with bare branches and buds. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing trees to line a driveway
• Browse the driveway tree range
• Other trees with autumn colour
• Advanced trees for immediate height

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Quickly for a shade tree, particularly in the first five years with water and open ground. Growth slows as the crown fills out and the tree settles near 10m.

How far from the house should I plant it?

Allow at least 6m from walls and paving so the mature crown has room. Ash roots are vigorous, so keep it well away from drains and septic lines.

Does it colour up in warm districts?

Yes, though the display is stronger where autumn nights are cold. In warm temperate gardens expect softer orange tones over a shorter period.