Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green ash)

Scientific Name
Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Trade Name
Green ash

Family Name
Oleaceae

Common Names
American ash, Ash, Blue ash, Darlington ash, Fresno, Green ash, Pumpkin ash, Red ash, Swamp ash, Water ash, Water ash profunda, White ash

Regions of Distribution
North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Canada, United States

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Baseball bats, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Beehives, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hockey sticks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Oars, Office furniture, Paddles, Paneling , Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Railroad cars, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Skis, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Toys, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview

Heartwood Color

Very similar to white ash

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

Heartwood resistance to attack by decay fungi and other wood destroying organisms is very low or negligible.

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Slow drying of timber produced from trees from wet sites may cause gray-brown sapwood stains (sticker marks, stains), and surface checks (in 6/4 and thicker stock)

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Size

Product Sources
Green ash has very similar properties to White ash, and lumber and veneer produced from the two species are often mixed together and maketed without distinction.

Blunting Effect

Boring

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Movement in Service

The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning, with only small movement in use

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

Betts, H.S.,1945,American Woods – Ash,USDA, Forest Service American Woods

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: – No.7 North America,TRADA

California Department of Forestry. Comparative Physical & Mechanical Properties of Western & Eastern Hardwoods. Prepared by Forest Products Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California. n/d.

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

HMSO, 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kaiser, Jo-ann. Wood of the Month. Ash – A Big Leaguer’s Choice. Wood and Wood Products, September, 1987. Page 40.

Kaiser, Jo-Ann. Wood of the Month. Wood & Wood Products, July 1986 to September 1993.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.