Accession Count: 3
Common Name:
raywood ash
Family Name:
Oleaceae
Botanical Name:
Fraxinus angustifolia
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
'Raywood'
Characteristics:
Compound:
Fra ang Ray
Geographic Origin:
Mediterranean
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The Raywood Ash is a fine-textured, deciduous tree, which is capable of reaching more than 80 feet in height, but will more commonly be 40-50 feet tall (1). The straight species of this cultivar is native to the Mediterranean. The cultivar has many adaptations typical of a Mediterranean species but is widely used in cultivation throughout the western United States (2). The young trees are upright or oval. The leaves turn various shades of red to purple before falling in autumn (1). The Raywood should be grown in full sun and is moderately drought-tolerant once established (3).
Cultivation Notes:
The Raywood Ash can live in wet sites but they will perform much better in well-drained conditions. Surface roots can be a problem on wet sites and on clay soil but otherwise are grown in a range of soil from sand to clay (1). The Raywood Ash is reported to be seedless so the usual mess created by other ashes is absent. The trees are very susceptible to damage from ice loads.
Ethnobotany:
The Raywood Ash is supposed to be kept in the sun at all time during the day, and it grows much more efficiently when the surrounding dirt is not wet. The bark of the tree is a shade of light grey. Compared to other trees, the Raywood has a smooth texture without very many grooves or bumps on the surface. A unique characteristic of the Raywood Ash is that it is tolerant of pests. However, there is a possibility of borers, which include worms, beetles, and other insects. These borers can cause possible damage to parts of the tree (1). The fruit from the Raywood ash are not edible and it does not cause allergies in people (3).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Green
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
High Water Use
