Ash trees there are many species, but this time we move away a bit from the ordinary and analyze the so-called  flowering ash  or, as it is scientifically known to eliminate any doubt,  Fraxinus ornus.

A very interesting tree to grow in gardens and parks due to its large dimensions, its size and its ornamental characteristics. Its origin is European , so ash trees are used to continental climates and cold in winter, losing their leaves when temperatures drop (deciduous tree).

Today it is spread almost throughout the entire world, growing in various areas of Asia, the Mediterranean climate, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and a long etcetera.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLOWERING ASH ( FRAXINUS ORNUS )

The flowering ash, scientifically known as Fraxinus ornus is a tree of the same genus as the olive grove, Oleaceae , and of the genus  Fraxinus . It is a medium-sized tree, reaching an average height of between 8 and 10 meters in its adult state .

It is a deciduous species, common in trees in cold and continental European areas. The appearance of its leaves is a dark green, almost greyish, with an oval shape and a serrated end. The underside is hairy to the touch.

The most interesting from the ornamental point of view of Fraxinus ornus  is, and hence its common name as flower ash, its flowering . Unlike the common ash , it blooms in the form of white inflorescences, with a hairy appearance, very aromatic and with a hermaphrodite morphology.

This flowering occurs in spring, after the leaves have come out, approximately in the months of April and May .

FRAXINUS ORNUS CULTIVATION GUIDE 

In general, flowering ash follows the same recommendations as other Fraxinus species , especially common ash. They are resistant to bad weather , with a wide range of temperatures and without many requirements for humidity or soil fertility.

We discuss, point by point, each of the most interesting aspects of its cultivation.

APPROPRIATE CLIMATE

Fraxinus ornus  is one of the most cold hardy species within its genus. However, in Spain it is common to see specimens throughout the Mediterranean basin and the Ebro valley, so you will not have any problem, even in extremely cold conditions, to plant it in your garden.

Due to its size, it adapts perfectly to conditions of full light or semi shade.

A little ambient humidity is ideal , especially in very hot summer climates, where it welcomes the coastal breeze as long as it is not very saline since it does not tolerate saline soils .

SOIL TYPE

The only requirement for the cultivation of flowering ash is that they be fresh soils . This type of soils are characterized by conserving humidity well, being porous and not keeping the temperature much in summer.

In the event that you live in a very hot area in summer, incorporating a superficial layer of organic matter allows you to keep the temperature in the environment of your roots isolated, while improving moisture conservation.

You can plant it in limestone or slightly acid soils, regardless of the soil texture .

IRRIGATION

For the cultivation of Fraxinus ornus  a continuous supply of humidity in the soil is necessary, keeping it constant during most of the year. It needs cool and certainly humid soils, hence it usually grows in environments close to rivers and hillsides.

To maintain humidity and prevent irrigation from drying out, we propose the following recommendations, drip irrigation being the most recommended .

• Watering in autumn and winter:  1 watering a week or nothing if there is regular rainfall.
• Irrigation in spring and summer:  2 to 3 irrigations per week, with a dose of 4 L / tree in adult specimens

SUBSCRIBER

Flowering ash is not usually fertilized , unless you want to promote its development in the first years of life or detect a micronutrient deficiency. The most common is iron deficiency , especially in calcareous or high pH soils, where iron becomes insoluble and cannot be assimilated by plant roots.

The most advisable thing for this tree, especially to maintain a fresh and porous soil, is the regular application of organic matter . We will provide a superficial mulch of 5-10 kg of organic matter around the trunk each year.

If you plant it for the first time , carry out the same operation but introducing the organic matter in the planting hole.

PODA

Fraxinus ornus  does not require pruning except for the removal of twisted, wind damaged or dry branches.

MULTIPLICATION

The reproduction of this tree can be done by means of seeds or by the classical method of cuttings . Using seeds is complicated since they need a long germination period that can exceed a year.

It is usually done by cutting or stakes, although it is not as simple as with other species. Basal stems are usually used to root them and obtain identical species.

However, the most common way is to buy a young species in a specialized nursery, since we advance its development several years and it is not very expensive to obtain.

COMMON USES OF FLOWERING ASH

The main current use is as an ornamental tree. Its adaptation conditions to different climatic ranges and its resistance allow it to be used as a large species for parks and gardens.

Usually this species is grafted onto more resistant rootstocks that give a different appearance to the bark of the tree, using the Fraxinus excelsior or common ash species as a standard .

However, it has had various uses since the Middle Ages and even earlier. Fraxinus ornus produces a sap that contains a lot of sugars and can be easily extracted from its bark. In Sicily it was common to market this sap transformed to solid and known as manna or Sicilian gum.

This manna or gum is used both for its flavor and for certain attributed medicinal properties . The sap, like many other plants, has a certain laxative activity and a purgative effect in high doses. In turn, it was considered to have an anti-inflammatory and diuretic effect.

Among the active principles obtained from the sap of Fraxinus ornus  are mannitol (the highest concentration), resins, manotriose, hexose, exatetrose and coumarin heterosides.