Green Ash

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is a fast growing deciduous shade tree that reaches about 12m tall and 8m wide, and turns dependable golden yellow in autumn before dropping its leaves. It is among the toughest large trees you can plant: frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind firm and happy in ground that stays wet. Give it room and it will shade a house within a decade.

Why you'll love it

• Real shade, quickly. Fast for a tree of this size, so a bare block or new verge gets a usable canopy years sooner.
• Golden autumn colour you can count on. The whole canopy turns clean yellow, not just a branch here and there.
• Sun in winter, shade in summer. Being deciduous, it shades the house through the hot months and lets winter light straight back in once the leaves drop.
• A standard council street tree. Hard frost, long dry spells, strong wind and waterlogged ground are all within its range.

Where it works best

Shade tree. This is a tree for a large garden, a paddock or a wide verge. Allow at least 8m of clear space in each direction, its mature spread.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart down a long drive so the canopies just touch at maturity. Lift the lower limbs as the trees grow to keep vehicle clearance.

Windbreak. A row on the windward boundary of a rural block filters summer gusts, and the bare winter framework still slows wind.

Growing green ash in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, where winter is cold enough to drive proper dormancy and autumn colour.

Soil. Almost anything. Clay, loam and sand all suit it, and it is one of the few large shade trees that accepts ground staying wet after heavy rain. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then rely on rainfall except in severe drought. A complete fertiliser in early spring for the first few years builds the canopy faster.

Pruning. Prune in winter while dormant. Remove competing leaders early so the tree builds one strong trunk, then lift the lower branches gradually. Mature trees need very little.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in five sizes: 400mm, 45L, 75L, 100L and 200L. The 400mm and 45L trees are young, quick to establish and the sensible choice for an avenue. The larger 75L, 100L and 200L trees carry real height and trunk calliper on arrival.

Because it is deciduous, trees shipped between late autumn and late winter arrive bare stemmed. That is normal and they leaf out on schedule in spring. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Choosing trees to line a driveway
• Browse plants with autumn colour
• See the full deciduous tree range

Common questions

How big does it actually get?

About 12m tall and 8m wide. That is too large for a courtyard or a narrow side boundary, so check the space, services and overhead lines before ordering.

Will it grow in a warm, humid climate?

Not well. It needs a genuinely cold winter to go dormant and colour properly, so tropical and subtropical gardens give patchy autumn colour and a tired looking tree.

Does it produce seedlings?

Female trees set winged seed that germinates readily in damp ground. Pull volunteer seedlings while they are small, and avoid planting it directly beside a creek or a wetland.

How fast does it grow?

Around a metre a year once the roots are established, slowing as the canopy widens. Slower on dry, compacted soil and in the first season after planting.