Fraxinus excelsior Allgold - Ash, European Ash, Common Ash

The Fraxinus excelsior ‘Allgold’ is an attractive variety of Frêne commun which immediately captivates with its magnificent golden yellow branches. This medium-sized tree forms a beautiful regular spherical crown giving it a well-balanced silhouette. Its compound leaves with an odd number of leaflets are light green during the growing season. In autumn, they turn beautiful shades of yellow and persist on the tree for quite some time before falling to the ground. Winter allows for an even better view of the original color of the branches, especially as the black buds create a superb contrast.

The Ash tree belongs to the Oleaceae family, which besides the Olive tree (Olea) that gave it its name, includes many ornamental plants, such as the Lilac (Syringa), Jasmine, or the splendid Snowbell tree, or Chionanthus virginicus. Ash trees, of which there are around sixty-five species often closely related, share their leaves (with rare exceptions) being paripinnate (compound with an odd number of leaflets due to the terminal leaflet), generally opposite or sometimes grouped in threes. Fraxinus excelsior is our common Ash tree, widespread from Europe to the Caucasus and as far north as Anatolia. Rapidly growing, reaching over 30 m in height, it is 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 yellow-green flowering before leafing out.
The Fraxinus excelsior ‘Allgold’ is a variety more suited to our medium-sized gardens as its growth is less than that of the species. In ten years of cultivation, it will reach 4 to 6 m in height 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 color 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 in the heart of a season that generally lacks it. Additionally, the almost black buds create a superb contrast on the golden yellow bark.
The 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, creating an attractive design. Light green in spring, they turn to a deep yellow in late summer and autumn, allowing for beautiful scenes when planted in groups. The leaves tend to stay on the tree for a long time, especially when autumn is sunny, increasing its ornamental value. The autumnal colors and those of the branches are more pronounced when planted in full sun. 'Allgold' hardly flowers and is sterile, therefore not forming samaras (fruit) unlike the 'Jaspidea' variety which looks quite similar.

The 'Allgold' common Ash tree is an easy-to-grow beautiful tree in all fertile and moist soils. Extremely hardy, it withstands windy conditions, is not very sensitive to de-icing salt, tolerates paving above its root zone, and is suitable for the urban atmosphere of our city gardens. Plant it preferably in groups, associating it with other woody plants with decorative bark to create a stunning winter landscape. The Prunus serrula, or Tibetan Cherry, with its splendid shiny mahogany red bark, will be a perfect companion, as well as its cousin the Prunus maackii 'Amber Beauty', which dresses in orange amber, with visually striking light lenticels. Another autumnal splendor, the Acer griseum, aptly named Cinnamon Maple due to its brown bark that peels 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.