4 Things to Know About the Black Ash Tree: Species at risk series
This monthly series features at-risk plants and animals found in the Ottawa Valley and what we can do to protect them.
This month, we’re sharing facts about the black ash, otherwise known as Fraxinus nigra.
What does the black ash look like?
This tree is on the smaller side with a narrow crown.
Its bark is light grey in colour and while soft or cork-like in the tree’s infancy, the bark becomes scaly as it grows older.
The black ash also produces oval leaflets, which are a deep green.
Where can you find black ash trees in the Ottawa Valley?
This tree grows across the region, particularly in swampy woodlands as it needs a significant amount of moisture.
What threatens the black ash tree?
The Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle, threatens the black ash across its entire range.
Has this tree been used historically by communities?
This tree has a second name: basket ash. This is because Indigenous peoples have used black ash trees for basket making, as well as other traditional uses.
What can you do to help?
The black ash requires intact wet forests to thrive, which often house other species at risk. Donate today to support our work in the Ottawa Valley protecting habitat important to this and many other species at risk.