http://nativeplantspnw.com/oregon-ash-fraxinus-latifolia/
Oregon Ash, Fraxinus latifolia
Oregon Ash - The Olive Family–Oleaceae
Fraxinus latifolia Benth.
(FRAKS-ih-nus lat-ih-FOAL- ee-uh)
Names: Latifolia means “wide leaves.” Oregon Ash has wider leaflets than most Ashes.
Relationships: There are about 65 species of Ashes, mostly in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. About 16 species occur in North America.
Distribution of Oregon Ash from USGS ( “Atlas of United States Trees” by Elbert L. Little, Jr. )
Distribution: Oregon Ash is found from the southern coast of British Columbia, west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, to the coast ranges and Sierra Nevadas of California. Young Oregon Ash tree.
Growth: Oregon Ash grows to about 75 feet (25m). It grows quickly for the first 80 years, then more slowly—living to about 250 years.
Habitat: This tree grows in moist to wet soils near streams, lakes and in flood plains.
Oregon Ash typically grows on lakesides and in floodplains,
Wetland Designation: FACW, Facultative wetland, it usually occurs in wetlands but occasionally occurs in non-wetlands.
Flowers are very small.
Diagnostic Characters: Oregon Ash is our only tree with compound leaves, making it easy to identify. The oppositely arranged, pinnately compound leaves have 5-7 leaflets. Flowers are small and inconspicuous, appearing before the leaves. The seeds are single samaras, like a half of a maple seed, with long (3- 5cm) wings, borne in large, drooping clusters.
Single samaras of Oregon Ash.
In the Landscape: New growth on Oregon Ash is is susceptible to aphids. It is, however, useful for revegetating wet areas that are flooded periodically. Autumn is its most aesthetic season, when female trees produce attractive seed clusters, followed by bright yellow fall foliage.
Phenology: Bloom Period: March-May. Samaras ripen: August-September.
Propagation: Seeds are best collected slightly green before fully dry on the tree and sown immediately outside or in a cold frame. Otherwise they require a cool, moist stratification at 40ºF (4ºC) for 90 days.
Use by people: Natives used Oregon Ash wood for canoe paddles and digging sticks. Today the hard wood is used for tool handles, furniture, sports equipment, and barrels. It also makes good firewood.
Use by wildlife: The winged seeds of Oregon Ash are eaten by a birds and small mammals. The foliage is food for butterfly larvae and may be consumed by passing browsers.
Additional Resources: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=FRLA https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/fraxinus-latifolia
OSU Landscape Plants: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/fraxinus-latifolia Fraxinus latifolia Common name: Oregon Ash Pronunciation: FRAKS-i-nus lat-i-FO-li-a Family: Oleaceae Genus: Fraxinus Type: Broadleaf Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: Yes
• Broadleaf deciduous tree, 40-80 ft (12-24 m) tall, narrow, dense crown, straight trunk. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, 15-30 cm long, 5-7 oval leaflets, each 5-15 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, elliptical, short-pointed at ends, lateral leaflets are sessile or with a short stalk (petiolule), medium to light green above and paler and slightly pubescent below; fall color is yellow or brown. Flowers dioecious - male and female flowers on separate trees, small, about 3 mm, male flowers yellowish and female flowers greenish, both in small clusters and without petals, appear before leaves. Fruit, single samara, 3-5 cm long, hang in dense clusters. • Sun or part shade. Survives standing water in winter months and, when established, need not be watered during the summer. Valued as an ornamental tree in Europe more than here.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 6 Native to western portions of Washington and Oregon and south in the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada to Central California. The only ash native to the Pacific Northwest.
• latifolia: with broad leaves
• Oregon State Univ. campus: large tree on the north side of USDA Forage Seed Lab. on Campus Way, near 35th St. Also behind Dixon Lodge, corner 11th St. and Jefferson Ave.