Ash - Fraxinus excelsior
Irish name - Fuinseóg
Ulster Scots name - Eshtree, esh or ess
Olive family - Oleaceae
Characteristics
- Ash usually grows to a height of 25m (75ft) but can grow to 45m under ideal conditions. They typically have long clean trunks and open canopies.
- Trees are 30-40 years old before female flowers are borne in compact clusters, which open before the leaves.
- The natural life-span of ash is about 200 years.
- Ash are fast-growing and tolerate wind, salt and atmospheric pollution.
- It casts only a light shade, so it is good for ground flora. The leaves rot very quickly after falling.
Season
- Ash is usually the last native tree to come into leaf, generally in May, and autumn, is often the first tree to drop its leaves.
- The catkin-like flowers appear in May. They may be female, male or of both sexes, with all types on the same tree. The female flowers produce seeds that ripen into bunches of pale green keys by September, which dry to brown through October before being distributed by the wind. These keys are often used by children as spinners.
Preferred Environment
- Ash grows best in well drained base-rich soils but is tolerant of seasonal water logging.
- It prefers northern and eastern sides of hills and enjoys free, not stagnant, moisture for its toots.
- In the wild, the young seedlings show great sensitivity to heavy shade. When they have full light, they develop rapidly. Rainfall in May and June is apparently another factor vital to their success.
Wildlife Associations
- There are 41 associated insect species identified.
- Seeds are good for small mammals, birds and red squirrels.
Uses
- Ash wood is very strong and flexible. It has been said that ash has greater toughness than any other native hardwood. For this reason, it is widely used for tool handles, furniture, sports equipment, parts of aircraft and even policeman’s truncheons.
- In folklore, newborn babies were given a teaspoon of ash sap to make them grow strong.
Please remember...
Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Northern Ireland Environment Agency too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).