Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

singleleaf ash Oleaceae Fraxinus anomala Torr. ex S. Watson Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: FRAN2
Leaf: Opposite, simple or sometimes tri-foliate, oval to nearly round, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long and nearly as wide, entire or slightly wavy toothed, a bit leathery, dark green above, paler below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; small and inconspicuous, pale yellow-green in small clusters on last years growth, appear before or with the leaves.
Fruit: Single-winged, straight papery samara in clusters; 3/4 to 1 inch long, 1/2 inch wide, wing extends to the seed base, ripen in mid to late summer.
Twig: Stout, four-angled, lined or winged, light orange-brown, with darker, scruffy buds; leaf scars crescent-shaped and slightly raised.
Bark: Initially smooth and light brown; later splitting into dark brown, narrow scaly, rough ridges.
Form: Small tree or shrub to 20 feet with short trunk and an upright form and very often with multiple trunks.
 Looks like: Arizona ash

singleleaf ash leaf image
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Additional Range Information: Fraxinus anomala is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information