Comparative table of the main types of ash

Relative stability assessments:

5- very high;

4— high;

3- average;

2- low;

1- very low.

View	Origin and natural area	Height	Estimated durability	Soil	Humidity	Drought	Frost	Lime / high pH	Salt	World	Core Value	Main limitations
Common ash - Fraxinus excelsior	Europe - Western Asia; temperate forests	25–40 m, sometimes higher	200–300 years, some old trees longer	Deep, loose, fertile; loam; tolerates lime	Fresh or moderately moist, but not constantly stagnant	2–3	5	4–5	1–2	Sun; young growth tolerates partial shade for a while	Keystone European species; fast-decomposing foliage; light canopy; valuable timber	Ash is especially vulnerable to drying out.
Narrow-leaved ash - F. angustifolia	Southern and Central Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia	20–30 m	150–250+ years	From alluvial loams to relatively dry mineral soils	Grows well in river valleys; tolerates seasonal drying out	4	3–4	4	2–3	Sun	A southern European alternative to common ash; better able to withstand heat	Also affected by ash dieback; not suitable for cold regions
Manna ash, or flower ash — F. ornus	Southern Europe and Western Asia; dry, open forests	8–15, sometimes 20 m	100–200 years	Rocky, calcareous, poor, well-drained	Dry to moderately fresh	5	3	5	3	Full sun	Blooms in conspicuous white panicles; beneficial to pollinators; good for dry slopes and cities	Does not form tall timber trees; weaker in cold and marshy areas
American ash, white - F. americana	Eastern North America; mixed forests	20–35 m	200–300+ years	Deep, fertile, well-drained	Fresh, without prolonged flooding	3	4–5	3	1–2	Young growth is shade-tolerant, while adults require light.	Very elastic wood; seeds serve as animal feed	Extremely vulnerable to emerald ash borer; outside its native range, the ecological value is lower
Green ash, Pennsylvania — F. pennsylvanica	North America; floodplains and wet plains	15–25 m	Usually 100-200 years	Very wide range; clay, loam, compacted urban soils	Tolerates humidity and temporary flooding	3–4	5	3–4	3–4	Sun	Fast-growing, wind-resistant, adapted to harsh conditions	Severely affected by the emerald ash borer; can become naturalized outside its native range; should not be used as a mass species in Europe
Black ash - F. nigra	Northeastern North America; swamps and cold floodplains	15–25 m	100–200 years	Organic, peaty and moist mineral soils	Very tall; tolerates waterlogging	1–2	5	2–3	1	Sun - partial shade	A specialist in swamp forests; important for wet ecosystems	Does not tolerate drought well; extremely susceptible to borer
Blue ash - F. quadrangulata	Central regions of North America	15–25 m	200–300 years	Limestone, alkaline, dryish loams	Moderate; drainage required	4	4	5	2	Sun	Good for calcareous and dry areas; distinguished by its tetrahedral shoots	Rare; susceptible to borer damage, although sometimes showing slightly better survival than white and green ash
Oregon ash - F. latifolia	Pacific coast of North America	15–25 m	150–250 years	Deep alluvial soils	Wet, floodplain	2	3	2–3	2	Sun	Suitable for humid, mild climate valleys	Not for severe frosts and dry continental locations; risk of beetle infection
Velvet ash - F. velutina	Southwestern United States and northern Mexico	10–20 m	100–200 years	Sandy, gravelly, alluvial soils	Tolerates dryness after rooting	5	2–3	4	3	Full sun	One of the most drought-resistant ash trees; suitable for hot cities and dry valleys	Not suitable for cold, damp climates; alien to Europe
Texas ash - F. albicans	South Central United States	10–15 m	100–200 years	Dry, rocky, calcareous	Low or seasonal humidity	5	2–3	5	2	Sun	Compact drought-resistant ash for limestone slopes	Limited frost hardiness and availability
Carolina ash — F. caroliniana	Southeastern North America	8–15 m	50–150 years	Marsh and alluvial soils	Very tall; tolerates prolonged flooding	1	2	2	2–3	Sun - partial shade	Warm marsh and coastal zone specialist	Not for frosty and dry regions
Chinese ash - F. chinensis	China and East Asia	15–25 m	100–200+ years	Various fertile, well-drained soils	Fresh or moderately moist	3–4	3–4	3–4	2–3	Sun	An urban and forest tree; some Asian ash trees share a common evolutionary history with the ash borer	Ecological value and out-of-range behavior need to be assessed locally
Manchurian ash - F. mandshurica	Northeast China, Korea, Russian Far East	20–30 m	200–300 years	Rich, moist forest and floodplain soils	High, but flowing humidification is desirable	2–3	5	3	1–2	Sun - light partial shade	A frost-hardy large Asian ash; potential source of genetic resistance to some pests	It doesn't like severe drought; it's unwise to transfer it en masse to Europe without testing.
Sogdian ash - F. sogdiana	Central Asia; river valleys and tugai forests	10–20 m	About 100-200 years	Alluvial, often carbonate soils	Depends on groundwater or river water	4 after rooting	4	4	3	Sun	Valuable for continental river corridors and restoration of tugai forests	Not a true desert tree; requires access to water
Syrian ash - F. syriaca	Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia	10–20 m	About 100-200 years	Rocky, calcareous, drained	Moderate or seasonally dry	4–5	2–3	5	2–3	Sun	Suitable for dry Mediterranean valleys and slopes	Insufficient frost hardiness for much of Central Europe
Himalayan ash - F. floribunda	The Himalayas and South Asia	15–25 m	Data varies by location	Deep mountain soil, good drainage	Fresh in the humid mountain climate	2–3	2–3	2–3	1	Sun - partial shade	A mountain tree of warm-temperate regions	Not suitable for dry lowlands and severe European frosts
Evergreen ash - F. uhdei	Mexico and Central America	20–30 m	100–200 years	Deep, fertile, fresh to moist	Moderately high	3	1	3	2–3	Sun	A fast-growing tree of the subtropics	In some warm regions it can become invasive; it does not tolerate severe frosts.
Griffith Ash — F. griffithii	East and Southeast Asia	8–15 m	Usually 80-150 years	Well-drained, moderately fertile	Moderate	3	1–2	2–3	3	Sun	A compact evergreen or semi-evergreen species for warm climates.	Not for frost zones; naturalization is possible

The main European ash trees

1. Common ash is the main forest-forming tree

Tall ash— the main ash tree of Central and Northern Europe. Its natural range covers most of Europe and extends to Iran.Plants of the World Online)

Characteristic features:

Sign	Description
Kidneys	Large, almost black - the best diagnostic sign
Sheet	Usually 7–13 serrated leaflets
Bloom	Early spring, usually before the leaves emerge
Fruit	Elongated samaras, hanging in bunches
Crown	Tall, relatively delicate
Autumn coloring	Often short-lived; leaves may fall off green
Soil	Prefers rich, fresh, well-aerated soil
Ecological role	Creates a light, fertile forest with a rich herbaceous layer

This is an excellent tree for deep loams, floodplains without prolonged stagnation, north-facing slopes, and areas with constant moisture. However, it would be a mistake to consider it a universal drought-resistant tree.

2. Narrow-leaved ash - for warmer climates

Narrow-leaved ashGenerally tolerates heat and seasonal drought better than common ash. It is found both in floodplain forests and in drier southern European conditions. In nursery practice, it is described as a species capable of growing in clay, loam, sand, calcareous, and even relatively poor soils.

Of particular interest to:

southern Switzerland;

dry warm valleys;

Southern Europe;

future plantings in conditions of increasing summer heat.

But it is not a safe replacement for common ash:F. angustifolia is also susceptible to ash dieback. (arXiv)

3. Manna ash is the best ash for dry slopes

Ash treenoticeably different from most ash trees:

remains a small to medium sized tree;

forms fragrant white inflorescences;

grows well on limestone;

tolerates heat and drought;

suitable for rocky slopes;

valuable for pollinators.

It is already found in Switzerland, especially in warmer regions, and is included in the Swiss floristic database InfoFlora.

It is not a direct analogue of the tall forest ash tree. Its role isdry-resistant middle tier, forest edge, slope, forest-steppe and urban forest.

How to distinguish the main types

View	Kidneys	Leaves	Flowers	Shoots and bark	Typical place
F. excelsior	Blacks	Usually 7-13, serrated	Inconspicuous, without petals	Gray shoots; mature bark is diamond-fissured	Rich fresh European forest
F. angustifolia	Brown	Narrower, usually 7-13	Nondescript	Thin shoots	Warm valleys, southern floodplains
F. ornus	Gray-brown	Usually 5-9, wider	Bright white panicles	Smooth grey bark on young trees	Dry limestone slopes
F. americana	Brown	Typically 5–9; underside often lighter	Nondescript	Deep diamond-shaped bark on mature trees	The rich forests of eastern North America
F. pennsylvanica	Brown	Usually 5–9; shape variable	Nondescript	Often the younger parts are more pubescent	Floodplains, cities, heavy soils
F. nigra	Dark brown	The leaves have almost no petioles	Nondescript	Corky bark of mature trees	Cold swamps
F. quadrangularis	Brown	Usually 7-11	Nondescript	Characteristic tetrahedral, winged shoots	Limestone slopes