Thursday, October 23, 2014

Featured Plant of The Day: Autumn Purple White Ash


Fraxinus americana 'Junginger (Autumn Purple®)' 
White Ash


Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    3B to 9A
Height    50' to 75' / 15.20m to 22.80m
Spread    35' to 50' / 10.60m to 15.20m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Oval and rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Green
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Purple
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Landscape Uses
-    Street tree
-    Pollarding
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous blooms

Culture Notes
Existing trees do not tolerate soil compaction or construction injury due to an extensive root system.  The tree appreciates good soil and is probably not a good choice for poor, urban soils. It tolerates high soil salt concentrations originating from de-icing salt applications better than many other plants. Plants in containers tolerate moderately-high soil salt solutions up to about 6 mmhos/cm according to the saturated media extract method. It does not tolerate heavy clay soil with standing water in the planting hole. Established plants tolerate flooding well.

White Ash is resistant to heat, although it is native to moist locations, including river bottoms and well-drained upland sites. There is no fruit production on this cultivar but pollen from this male tree causes significant allergy symptoms.

The potential disease and insect problems limit use to parks and other areas where the tree will not be missed if it dies.  White Ash which have not been properly pruned can break apart in wind storms, but it has better branch structure than seedling Green Ash. Ash are among those susceptible to summer branch drop according to surveys in California. Summer branch drop is a phenomena resulting in failure and breakage of large diameter branches typically on calm summer days. Can be used as a street tree where there is plenty of soil space for root expansion and where cultural conditions are met.  Used as a street and parking lot tree in central California.  Wood is considered ring porous.