Fraxinus caroliniana

Common Names

Carolina Ash, Water Ash, Pop Ash, Florida Ash, Swamp Ash

Summary

Carolina ash is a native deciduous tree of the southeastern United States, typically 25–50 ft tall with usually a single trunk (often multi-trunk) and a base enlarged and leaning, a rounded or narrow crown, and a preference for wet sites such as swamps, flatwoods, bottomlands, and riverbanks. It has opposite pinnately compound leaves with 5–7 leaflets; leaflets elliptical; bark light gray, thin, and scaly; flowers green in spring; fruits are broad-winged samaras 1.5–2 in long, hanging in groups.

Grows in full sun to partial shade with moist to wet soils; does not tolerate salt spray or brackish waters; hardy in zones 7a–10b; propagated primarily by seed, with coppiceable growth and resprout ability; wood is light and soft, not used commercially, typically used as fuelwood or pulpwood; suitable for landscapes as an understory tree in wet habitats such as pond margins and rain gardens; wildlife value as a host for eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

30-50 feet

Spread

5-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Partial shade to full sun.

Soil Type

Wet, hydric soils with shallow water

Soil Drainage

Wet, poorly drained soils with frequent standing water

Soil pH

3.5–6.0 pH, acidic soil.

Bloom Color

Green to purple (lavender) with yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, attracts birds