Fraxinus caroliniana aka Florida Ash

Fraxinus caroliniana, or Carolina water ash, belongs to the olive family. Its native range runs from the southeastern United States to Cuba. This long-lived tree sheds its leaves each year. It can also grow as a shrub with several trunks. In North Carolina, it grows in swamps and river bottoms. Its range there includes the coastal plain and Piedmont.

Most trees reach about 25–30 feet [7.6–9.1 metres] tall. One source gives a taller range, reaching 60 feet [18.3 metres]. Reported width is 5–10 feet [1.5–3 metres]. The trunk often leans and has a swollen base. The crown may be round or narrow. Gray to orange-brown bark forms uneven, scaly ridges with age. Gray-brown twigs may feel smooth or bear some fine hairs.

The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each pinnate leaf has five to nine leaflets. Their upper sides look dark green; their lower sides look paler. The leaflets feel thick and smooth, with toothed or plain edges. Small green to purple flowers open before the leaves. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Male clusters are dense, while female clusters are more open. Flowering occurs in spring, with May given as the bloom month. The fruit is a flat samara with broad, sometimes violet wings. These fruits hang in groups and ripen from July to October.

This ash suits moist or wet ground with acidic soil. It also grows in neutral soil and several soil textures. Dappled light and partial shade suit its woodland habits. Full sun works where the soil stays wet enough. It tolerates flooding and sites with frequent standing water. Salt spray and brackish water do not suit it. It grows at a moderate rate and needs little routine care. Its listed USDA hardiness range is zones 7–10.

Use it beside ponds, in rain gardens, or in boggy ground. Its leaves and hanging fruits add interest as a specimen. Eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars feed on it. Deer browse it, while waterfowl eat its seeds and roost there. Its soft, light wood has no commercial use. Emerald ash borer poses a serious threat to this tree. Ash flower gall mites and deer can also cause problems.