Raywood ash is a broadleaf deciduous tree cultivar in the olive family (Oleaceae). The species is native to Asia and Europe. The species epithet is compounded from the Latin words meaning “sour fruit,” the meaning of which is obscure as the fruits are not remotely edible. Raywood ash needs full sun and prefers well-drained soils. It is not too picky about soils types or pH. The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall but generally is 40 to 50 feet tall and 25 to 30 feet wide. It matures to an oval crown and is deer and drought tolerant once established. This tree is reported to produce only male flowers so no messy fruits are produced; however, some trees have produced female flowers and fruits. This tree is reportedly resistant to anthracnose foliage disease and ash lygus bug which attacks other ashes. The fall color is a nice purplish red. Use as a shade tree for the yard or as a street tree. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No pests or diseases are of major concern, although possibly borers. The tree is prone to toppling and can be hard to establish. See potential insect and disease problem factsheets to the left. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Oval
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The pinnately compound leaves have 7 to 9 leaflets that are 2 to 4 inches long and elliptic to lanceolate in shape. Margins are serrated. The leaves are oppositely arranged and may have whorls of 3 or 4 leaves at the ends of branches. Fall color is purplish red.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower detail
Insignificant male flowers in spring. Rarely produces female flowers
Fruit detail
Usually doesn't produce fruits
Bark detail
Light gray bark that starts out smooth and becomes more rough with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Twigs are brown to gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree; Street Tree
Garden tags
#fall interest #street tree #drought tolerant #deciduous tree #sun #shade tree #deer resistant #fall color purple #landscape plant sleuths course #hortcontest
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Common Insect Pests of Ash in North Carolina; Ash Flower Gall Mite