Fraxinus excelsior Allgold - Common Ash

Fraxinus excelsior 'Allgold' is an attractive variety of Common Ash that immediately captivates with its magnificent golden yellow branches. This medium-sized tree forms a beautiful, regular spherical crown that gives it a well-balanced silhouette. Its leaves, composed of an odd number of leaflets, are light green during the growing season. In autumn, they take on beautiful yellow hues and persist on the tree for quite some time before falling to the ground. In winter, the original colour of the branches is even more striking, especially as the black buds create a superb contrast.

The Ash tree is a member of the Oleaceae family, which, in addition to the Olive tree (Olea) from which it gets its name, includes many ornamental plants, such as Lilac (Syringa), Jasmine, and the splendid White Fringe Tree or Chionanthus virginicus. Ash trees, of which there are about sixty-five species that are often closely related, have in common their (with rare exceptions) odd-pinnate leaves (composed of an odd number of leaflets, due to the terminal leaflet), generally opposite or sometimes grouped in threes. Fraxinus excelsior is the Common Ash, widespread from Europe to the Caucasus and as far as northern Anatolia. It grows rapidly and can exceed 30 m in height, and it can be found in lowland forests, valleys, and near lakes and watercourses. Its compound leaves, with 7 to 13 leaflets, measure 20 to 40 cm in length, and it produces a very discreet yellowish-green flowering before bud burst.
Fraxinus excelsior 'Allgold' is a variety which is more suitable for medium-sized gardens, as its growth is smaller than that of the species. In ten years of cultivation, it will reach a height of 4 to 6 m and, at maturity, will not exceed 15 m in height. It forms a conical to spherical, regular and balanced crown, giving it a beautiful presence. This beautiful tree is remarkable for the yellow colour of its branches, particularly intense at the tips, where the bark is young. In winter, when the wood is bare, its branching is particularly appreciated, as it brings light to the heart of a sometimes dull season. The almost black buds create a superb contrast on the golden yellow bark.
Foliage appears quite late in spring, as is often the case with Ash trees. The leaves are composed of 5 to 11 lanceolate leaflets with pointed tips, with an attractive pattern. They are light green in spring and turn a deep yellow in late summer and autumn, creating magnificent scenes when planted in beds. The leaves tend to stay on the tree for a long time, especially when autumn is sunny, which increases its ornamental interest. The autumn colours and the colour of the branches are even more pronounced if it is planted in full sun. 'Allgold' hardly flowers and is sterile, so it does not produce samaras (the name of the fruits) unlike the variety 'Jaspidea', which has a similar appearance.

The Common Ash 'Allgold' is a beautiful tree that is easy to grow in all fertile and moist soils. It is extremely hardy, tolerates windy conditions, is not very sensitive to de-icing salt, withstands paving above its root zone, and is suitable for the urban atmosphere of our city gardens. Plant it in beds, associating it with other woody plants with decorative bark to create a beautiful winter decor. The Tibetan Cherry, with its splendid shiny mahogany red bark, will be a perfect companion, as will its cousin Prunus maackii 'Amber Beauty', which dresses in orange amber and stands out visually with its light lenticels. Another autumn splendour is the Paperbark Maple, aptly named for its brown bark that exfoliates with age. In autumn, it will allow you to create an epic scene when its foliage turns red against the yellow of your Ash tree.