Q&A for How to Identify an Ash Tree

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  • Question
    How do I identify an ash tree without leaves?
    Michael Simpson, PhD
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Dr. Michael Simpson (Mike) is a Registered Professional Biologist in British Columbia, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in ecology research and professional practice in Britain and North America, with an emphasis on plants and biological diversity. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. Mike received a BSc with honors in Ecology and an MA in Society, Science, and Nature from The University of Lancaster in England as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He has worked in British, North American, and South American ecosystems, and with First Nations communities, non-profits, government, academia, and industry.
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Expert Answer
    Ash leaves don’t generally turn brown before they fall, so if you are looking too late in the year to see them on the tree, you may be able to recognise them on the ground. Before the new season’s leaves burst in the spring, you should look at the buds as they are starkly black in colour.
  • Question
    Are mountain ash and ash trees the same thing?
    Michael Simpson, PhD
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Dr. Michael Simpson (Mike) is a Registered Professional Biologist in British Columbia, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in ecology research and professional practice in Britain and North America, with an emphasis on plants and biological diversity. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. Mike received a BSc with honors in Ecology and an MA in Society, Science, and Nature from The University of Lancaster in England as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He has worked in British, North American, and South American ecosystems, and with First Nations communities, non-profits, government, academia, and industry.
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Expert Answer
    Not at all. Mountain ash isn't actually true ash. Despite being similar, mountain ash's leaves tend to be more rounded and more distinctly toothed.
  • Question
    Does an ash tree have fruit?
    Michael Simpson, PhD
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Dr. Michael Simpson (Mike) is a Registered Professional Biologist in British Columbia, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in ecology research and professional practice in Britain and North America, with an emphasis on plants and biological diversity. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. Mike received a BSc with honors in Ecology and an MA in Society, Science, and Nature from The University of Lancaster in England as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He has worked in British, North American, and South American ecosystems, and with First Nations communities, non-profits, government, academia, and industry.
    Registered Professional Biologist
    Expert Answer
    Yes! Ash fruits have wings similar to those found on seeds of maples. On ash fruits, however, the seeds occur singly on stalks rather than in pairs and the wings are narrower.
  • Question
    How can I tell if an ash tree has borers?
    Community Answer
    You'll see "blonding" of the bark, as woodpeckers remove the outer gray bark and expose inner yellow bark to get at the EAB larvae.
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