White Ash – Fraxinus americana

The wood of white ash is economically important due to its strength, hardness, weight, and shock resistance. It is second only to hickory (Carya) for use in the production of tool handles. Nearly all wooden baseball bats are made from white ash. The wood is also used in furniture, antique vehicle parts, railroad cars and ties, canoe paddles, snowshoes, boats, doors, and cabinets.

White ash is an important source of browse and cover for livestock and wildlife. The samaras are good forage for the wood duck, northern bobwhite, purple finch, pine grosbeak, fox squirrel, and mice, and many other birds and small mammals. White ash is browsed mostly in the summer by white-tailed deer and cattle. The bark of young trees is occasionally used as food by beaver, porcupine, and rabbits.

All ash species are currently under assault in the American Midwest by the emerald ash borer beetle. Millions of trees have been destroyed both by the beetle's larvae and municipal and other authorities proactively removing trees in an apparently futile effort to stem the spread.