Native ash trees can be found in every county in Georgia. For a  tree species, they are evolutionarily young compared to other forest tree species. Ash trees are part of the deep forest and the deep swamp – upland ridges and mountain slopes. They also have been planted, cultivated and conserved in communities and tree farms. Ash species have great ecological and commercial values. Unfortunately, ash species also have a major exotic pest (emerald ash borer — EAB) stalking them, which leaves few survivors. This publication examines our native ash species of Georgia, and discusses their history, biology, identification, and potential demise from EAB.

Ash species of North America are wide-spread and varied, growing in many forest types and ecosystems as well as a significant component of urban and community forests. White, green, black, blue, pumpkin, and Oregon ash are considered commercially important for wood products in the United States. Ash is known for its resilient and hard wood, its strong growth with many values generated for communities and parks, and its ecosystem services in many forest types and habitats. Culturally, the ancient ash cults of Europe, human origin stories from ash, ash nymphs of mythology called meliae, and the Norse mythological evergreen ash tree holding Earth and Heaven called “Yggdrasil” all suggest a long social and psychological importance of ash trees to humans.

The four ash groups of southeastern North America are blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), the green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) complex of species, the white
ash (Fraxinus americana) complex of species, and the water ash complex of species.
Of these ash groups, there are nine (9) recognized species and varieties native to Georgia and the southeastern United States. Get to know your native ash tree species.