Fraxinus latifolia
Common name: 
Oregon Ash
Pronunciation: 
FRAKS-i-nus lat-i-FO-li-a
Family: 
Oleaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree, 40-80 ft (12-24 m) tall, narrow, dense crown, straight trunk.  Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, 15-30 cm long, 5-7 oval leaflets, each 5-15 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, elliptical, short-pointed at ends, lateral leaflets are sessile or with a short stalk (petiolule), medium to light green above and paler and slightly pubescent below; fall color is yellow or brown.  Flowers dioecious - male and female flowers on separate trees, small, about 3 mm, male flowers yellowish and female flowers greenish, both in small clusters and without petals, appear before leaves.  Fruit, single samara, 3-5 cm long, hang in dense clusters.
  • Sun or part shade.  Survives standing water in winter months and, when established, need not be watered during the summer.  Valued as an ornamental tree in Europe more than here.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6    Native to western portions of Washington and Oregon and south in the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada to Central California.  The only ash native to the Pacific Northwest.
  • latifolia: with broad leaves
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: large tree on the north side of USDA Forage Seed Lab. on Campus Way, near 35th St.  Also behind Dixon Lodge, corner 11th St. and Jefferson Ave.
Click image to enlarge
  • male flowers, spring

    male flowers, spring

  • female flowers, spring

    female flowers, spring

  • expanding leaf

    expanding leaf

  • developing fruit, spring

    developing fruit, spring

  • plant habit, in a landscape

    plant habit, in a landscape

  • plant habit, in a woods

    plant habit, in a woods

  • shoot, note opposite leaves

    shoot, note opposite leaves

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • leaflets and twig

    leaflets and twig

  • plant habit, fall

    plant habit, fall

  • leaves, fall

    leaves, fall

  • leaves, fall

    leaves, fall

  • leaf, fall

    leaf, fall

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark

  • twigs, bark, winter

    twigs, bark, winter