When does green ash bloom?

Green ash typically blooms in April and May, with small greenish flowers appearing before or as the leaves emerge.

What pollinators visit green ash flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main pollinators recorded visiting green ash flowers.

How much light does green ash need?

Green ash grows well in full sun to part shade and adapts to a range of light conditions in open and wooded settings.

What kind of soil moisture does green ash prefer?

Green ash favors medium to wet soils and is commonly found along riverbanks, floodplains, and low-lying areas.

Is Green Ash toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Green Ash as toxic to livestock.

Is Green Ash HOA-friendly?

Green Ash takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Green Ash

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Last reviewed: September 2026

Fraxinus pennsylvanica, or green ash, is a fast growing shade tree that blooms in April and May and tolerates part shade with medium to wet soil, often found along rivers and floodplains across the eastern and central United States.

Toxicity unknown

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Green Ash as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

360"–600" H × 240"–480" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CO, CT and 37 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Green ash is a medium to large deciduous shade tree with an upright, oval crown and compound leaves that turn yellow in fall. It grows relatively quickly and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, making it adaptable to many landscape settings. This tree produces small, inconspicuous flowers in spring before the leaves emerge.

Growing Green Ash

Grow Green Ash in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 360 to 600 inches tall and spread 240 to 480 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Green Ash takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Highly susceptible to emerald ash borer which has killed millions of ash trees
Many municipalities now discourage planting ash trees
Potential for sudden tree death and removal costs

Wildlife value

The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The seeds provide food for birds and small mammals, while the foliage supports various caterpillars and other insects.

Common questions

When does green ash bloom?: Green ash typically blooms in April and May, with small greenish flowers appearing before or as the leaves emerge.
What pollinators visit green ash flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main pollinators recorded visiting green ash flowers.
How much light does green ash need?: Green ash grows well in full sun to part shade and adapts to a range of light conditions in open and wooded settings.
What kind of soil moisture does green ash prefer?: Green ash favors medium to wet soils and is commonly found along riverbanks, floodplains, and low-lying areas.
Is Green Ash toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Green Ash as toxic to livestock.
Is Green Ash HOA-friendly?: Green Ash takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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