Side by side
Ash or manna ash? How to tell them apart
Fraxinus excelsior · Fraxinus ornus
How to tell them apart – ash: thick black buds, more leaflets (9–13) and inconspicuous flowers without petals; manna ash: ash with large, creamy panicles of fragrant flowers in May, and grey-brown, felted buds instead of black ones.
How do you recognise them?
- Ash
- Opposite pinnate leaves with 9–13 leaflets and thick, matt black buds.
- Compared with manna ash: thick black buds, more leaflets (9–13) and inconspicuous flowers without petals.
- Manna ash
- Ash with large, creamy panicles of fragrant flowers in May, and grey-brown, felted buds instead of black ones.
| Ash | Manna ash | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, pinnate with 9–13 oblong, toothed leaflets. The leaves often fall while still green in autumn. | Opposite, pinnate, with 5–9 stalked, oval, toothed leaflets 5–10 cm long. |
| Flowering | April | Dense panicles of small, white, fragrant flowers with narrow petals, in May–June (May–June). |
| Fruit | Clusters of winged fruits (‘keys’) that hang on well into winter. | Hanging clusters of narrow winged seeds 2–3 cm long. |
| Bark | Smooth and greenish-grey when young, later pale grey with a fine network of ridges. Buds velvety black. | Smooth and grey, even on older trees. Buds grey-brown and finely felted. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 20–35 m | Broadleaf tree, 8–15 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet | Full sun, any garden soil, dry |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for butterflies and birds | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | November–March | November–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Ash is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
- Ash grows 20–35 m tall: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Ash
- Plant profile: Manna ash
- Ash: when and how to prune
- Manna ash: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Ash or rowan
- Ash or elder
- Ash or tree of heaven
- Ash or Japanese pagoda tree
- Ash or box elder
- Manna ash or rowan
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.