Autumn Purple Ash Pros and Cons

The purple ash tree is basically a white ash tree with purple foliage in the fall. Its scientific name is Fraxinus Americana 'Autumn Purple'. It is a popular shade and roadside tree because of its fall colour. Ash trees are now considered too vulnerable to be planted because of the emerald ash borer, which can kill them.

This tree is dioecious, which means that individual trees will often be either male or female. However, the 'Autumn Purple' cultivar is a cloned male, which means that these trees will not yield fruit even though you will notice that these male plants do exhibit flowers. Their flowers are discrete and green. Gray bark is its additional aesthetic element. When purple ash trees reach maturity, the bark develops ridges in the shape of diamonds.

Autumn Purple Ash Pros

the Fall The purple ash tree is an excellent choice for large lawns because it is both an ornamental and a shade tree. It should not be planted where concrete curbing, sidewalks, or roads will restrict the root system's ability to spread. It produces a lovely avenue tree if a large median is supplied. It is one of the most desirable varieties of white ash trees for the landscape due to its rapid growth, resistance to wind, elegant structure, and leaves.

Autumn Purple ash thrives in a wide range of soil types, from well-draining to occasionally soggy, including those that are acidic or alkaline and fertile or damp.

According to the University of Connecticut, it is one of the best white ash tree kinds for the landscape because of its quick growth, wind resilience, appealing habit, and leaves.

Autumn Purple Ash Cons

This ash tree needs deep irrigation to avoid twig dieback or early leaf loss because it does not do well in protracted droughts. Keep an eye out for boring insects such as ash borer, lilac borer, and carpenter worm on Autumn Purple ash trees. These insects have a propensity to attack young twigs and cause the most damage to trees that are already under stress from dryness or other issues. According to the U.S. Forest Service, ash decline is the most dangerous illness and is brought on by a variety of reasons, including mycoplasma. The decline of ash trees typically takes place in elder trees and those that are growing in conditions of dry and barren soil. Avoid overplanting this tree in landscapes since it is still vulnerable to ash decline, which will cause a significant loss of shade trees if the disease spreads to the area.

FAQ's

What is the best ash tree to plant?

Shamel Ash (Fraxinus uhdei): These trees are popular in Southern California and the Southwestern United States, where they are valued for their ability to establish a huge canopy that casts a significant amount of shade. Since they mature very quickly, you won't have to wait an excessive amount of time to start reaping the advantages of a mature Shamel Ash tree.

Should I plant an ash tree in my yard?

Unfortunately, growing ash trees is discouraged in some regions due to the prevalence of emerald ash borer. Native black ash trees live for a very long time and reach heights of 30 to 50 feet. Due to the high mortality rate associated with emerald ash borer infestations, ash trees are not recommended to plant in certain regions.

Where do ash trees grow best?

According to the information available on the green ash, the native range of the tree extends from eastern Canada all the way down to Texas and into northern Florida. It thrives well in plant hardiness zones 3 to 9 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The green ash tree is one of the natural trees that is indigenous to this country that has the greatest capacity for adaptation.

Why is my ash tree dropping leaves?

Falling leaves are an indication of the fungal illness known as anthracnose. If the weather remains chilly and damp throughout the summer, falling leaves can persist, but according to experts, fungicides are not required for ash trees.