The narrow leaf ash is a medium- to large-sized tree renowned for doing well in urban settings and in acidic soil. Also known as desert ash and narrow-leaved ash, this tree has smooth, pale-gray bark on young trees that gradually become square-cracked and knobby as the tree grows older. The leaves are quite slender and grouped in three to 13 leaflets. The most common cultivar, 'Raywood,' is also known as claret ash, named for the lovely shade of purple that occurs in fall. This tree is quite similar to the related Fraxinus excelsior, but on the narrow leaf ash, the buds are pale brown rather than black.
This is another non-North American ash that may have greater resistance to damage from emerald ash borers.7
Native area: Southwest Asia, southern and central Europe, and northwest Africa
USDA growing zones: 5 to 8
Height: 50 to 80 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun