Its wood is strong, durable, and is highly resistant to shock. It is rarely the dominant species in the forest. White ash seed is a source of food for many wildlife species. It grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils, as it has demanding soil fertility and moisture requirements. White ash grows commonly on soils with a high nitrogen content and a moderate to high calcium content.
Natural germination is fostered if the soil, humus, or leaf litter is wet in the spring.
As seedlings, white ash is classified as shade tolerant but with increasing age, white ash becomes less tolerant and is classed as intolerant. Stumps of freshly cut seedlings and saplings will sprout readily. Top of Page Black Ash Fraxinus nigra As black ash can tolerate some standing water, it is generally found in swamps, along stream banks and in bogs. Though pure stands of black ash can occur, it is more commonly found in association with black spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, eastern hemlock, yellow birch, paper birch and tamarack. The crown is narrow and open, and the trunk is slender and sometimes leaning.