White ash is the largest and most valuable of the ash species in Iowa.
The leaves are 8 to 12 inches in length, with individual leaflets 2 to 6 inches in length. The fruit is a paddle-shaped samara, which often persists on the tree into winter. White ash is native over much of eastern Iowa. It is native to the Cedar River in northern Iowa, to the Des Moines River and its principal tributaries in central Iowa and to the Missouri River in southern Iowa. It is not found in pure stands but most often represents a minor component of these other forest types in Iowa.