European Ash

Fraxinus excelsior

This species often reaches 20-25 metres in height and is the only native member of the olive family. It has smooth silver grey bark which breaks into fissures on older trees. During winter the large unopened buds are jet black. Ash leaves are one of the latest to open and often drop while still green. Each seed is set in a long green wing or samara and drops from the tree during October. Ash likes alkaline soils and large ash woods will grow in limestone areas.