Comparing Green Ash vs. White Ash
The 4 Key Differences Between Green Ash and White Ash
The main differences between green ash and white ash are their preferred naturalization sites. Green ash enjoys a wet area, and white ash thrives in a medium-moist site. However, both trees are adaptable; you will often see them growing in the same forest or urban area. White ash and green ash also have slight differences in leaf shape, color, size, and the way humans use their wood. We will break down these differences in more detail now.
Green Ash vs. White Ash: Name
The scientific name for green ash is Fraxinus pennsylvanica. The common names for green ash are downy ash, swamp ash, and water ash. Memorizing these common names is an excellent way to remember that green ash is the ash that prefers a moist location. The scientific name for white ash is Fraxinus Americana. The common names for green ash are Biltmore ash, cane ash, and Biltmore white ash.
Green Ash vs. White Ash: Size
Both green ash and white ash are medium-sized deciduous trees. But they are not precisely the same size; white ash tends to be taller and broader than green ash. Green ash grows between 35 and 65 feet in height and spreads to 40 feet wide. The trunk of green ash can grow to 24 inches in diameter. White ash grows between 65 and 100 feet tall with a width of the same size. The trunk of white ash can grow to 36 inches in diameter. Some states have recorded white ash trees as tall as 120 feet.
Green Ash vs. White Ash: Description
Many differences between white ash and green ash can only be detected if you can examine the two trees side by side. For instance, the leaves of the white ash are attached by a longer petiole than the green ash. On green ash, when a leaf falls off, it leaves a scar that is straight across, while white ash has a U-shaped leaf scar. The bark of the green ash is flakier and has more horizontal cracks than the white ash, which has primarily vertical fissures. Green ash trees have green leaves that are equal in color on both top and bottom and turn golden in the fall. White ash trees have green leaves that are dark green on top and light green on the bottom; they turn yellow or red in the fall. White ash trees also have a stem that flakes or peels along the outer edges, while green ashes do not.
Green Ash vs. White Ash: Uses
Artisans use many types of ashwood interchangeably. But white ash is most commonly used for baseball bats, cabinetry, tool handles, furniture, flooring, and making guitars. White ash is prized for its strong wood and is the preferred choice for hardwood uses. We use green ash most commonly for ornamental purposes. It is adaptable to many urban environments and can handle disturbed earth and wet areas better than white ash. People also use green ash for furniture, cabinetry, and guitar-making purposes, but it measures lower than white ash in hardness, strength, and toughness. Both white ash and green ash are favorite nesting places for birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. They are also a favorite food of frogs because of their low tannin levels. Both green and white ash trees feed rabbits, porcupines, and beavers and are an essential part of the ecosystem.
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