Claret Ash

Claret Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood') is the deciduous shade tree most Australian gardeners think of when they picture deep autumn colour, turning wine red and burgundy before the leaves drop. It grows quickly to around 13m tall and 8m wide, narrow and upright when young, broadening into a rounded crown. Given room away from services it is one of the toughest large trees you can plant.

Why you'll love it

• Colour worth waiting for. Fine textured foliage turns claret and burgundy in autumn, far deeper than the yellow of a common ash.
• Shade in a hurry. Fast growth means real canopy within five to seven seasons rather than a decade of waiting.
• Winter sun, summer shade. Being deciduous, it shades a north facing room through summer and lets the light back in once the leaves drop.
• Tough in hard climates. Frost hardy, drought, heat and wind tolerant, which is why it works from Canberra to the dry inland.

Where it works best

Shade trees. One tree covers a lawn or outdoor area at maturity. Allow at least 8m of clear ground and keep the trunk well away from paving.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 6m apart for a matched row. The canopies meet overhead at that spacing while each tree still builds a full crown.

Tall screening. The same 6m spacing gives a high summer screen above a fence line, which opens up over winter.

Growing Claret Ash in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, so Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the tablelands and inland towns all work. Colour is strongest where autumn nights turn genuinely cold, so a Canberra tree out colours a coastal Sydney one. Humid subtropical and tropical gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Adaptable, from clay to sand, provided water moves through. Work compost into the backfill and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk. Be aware that the surface roots are vigorous, so keep it at least 8m from pipes, paving, pools and retaining walls.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers to drive roots downward rather than sideways, then water only in extended dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring for the first few years is enough.

Pruning. Formative pruning in the first three winters sets a single leader and a clear trunk. After that leave it alone, apart from damaged wood. Expect leaf litter over a few weeks in autumn, which matters if the tree overhangs a pool.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in seven sizes: 300mm, 400mm and 500mm pots, and 45L, 75L, 100L and 200L. The 300mm and 400mm are young whips, best for a long avenue where you can wait. The 45L and 75L are the usual garden choice, arriving staked with a defined trunk, and the 100L and 200L give immediate height.

Ordered in the cold months the tree will arrive leafless, which is normal and not a fault. Plants are 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 plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants grown for autumn colour
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• See trees suited to driveways and avenues
• Explore the full deciduous tree range

Common questions

How close to the house can I plant it?

Keep it at least 8m from the house, paving, pools and underground services. The surface roots are vigorous, and this is the single most common regret with a Claret Ash.

Will it colour up in a warm climate?

It colours best where autumn nights are cold. In milder coastal gardens the display is shorter and less intense, though still worth having.

How fast does it grow?

Fast for a large tree. Watered through the first two summers it gives real shade within five to seven seasons.