Ash - Fraxinus excelsior

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Alternative names
Common Ash
Description

Large tree to 40 metres with black winter buds. Leaves pinnate and opposite. Flowers with tufts of dark purplish brown stamens, becoming greenish without sepals or petals, borne in terminal or lateral clusters. Produces bunches of dangling seeds - 'keys'.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodland, scrub and hedgerows.

When to see it

April to May.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Very common and widespread throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 606 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Saharima Roenisch
    Spinney Hill Park
    26 June 2018
  • egaten
    Croft Hill Nature Trail
    12 June 2020
    In fruit
  • Andy's Rutland
    Gunnel Lane Meadow-Empingham
    17 July 2018
  • David Gould
    nr Ratby Meadow, Enderby
    08 April 2017
  • Pete Leonard
    Harby Hill Wood SSSI (S)
    26 March 2020
  • stepgray4
    Wymeswold Woodland
    22 October 2020
    Ash 'keys'
  • David Nicholls
    Groby Lodge Estate Wood
    07 March 2023

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Ash
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Lamiales
Family:
Oleaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
739
First record:
01/01/1979 (Patricia Evans)
Last record:
04/05/2024 (Carter, Robert)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    25 May 2006
    In fruit - Ash 'keys'
  • Frank Bedford
    Ashby de la Zouch, Ingles Hill Woodland
    25 September 2021
  • Andy's Rutland
    Exton Estate
    19 October 2018
  • David Nicholls
    Wirlybones Wood, Ratby
    02 April 2011
    in flower
  • Graham Calow
    Marsh near Old Fosse, Sapcote
    06 April 2008
    In flower
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    20 April 2009
    In flower - with buds
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    27 April 2013
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    27 April 2013
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    16 May 2012
  • stepgray4
    Wymeswold Woodland
    26 February 2021
    Black buds
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    16 February 2018
    Black buds
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton reservoir
    08 February 2022
  • stepgray4
    Wymeswold Woodland
    22 October 2020
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton reservoir
    08 February 2022
  • Steve Mathers
    Watermead Park (North)
    14 March 2017
    Ash keys
  • Alan Semper
    Harby, pub car park
    24 May 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby roadside
    05 August 2012
  • AJ Cann
    Cold Overton
    17 September 2021
  • stepgray4
    Bridleway near Wymeswold
    15 November 2020
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    16 September 2008
    Weeping Ash (Fraxinus excelsior 'Pendula')
Photo of the association

Psyllopsis fraxini agg.

The jumping plant louse Psyllopsis fraxini causes a gall to form on the leaves of Ash. The gall is usually on the leaf edge causing it to swell and roll. It starts green but gradually becomes redder with age, often with a chequer-board pattern.

Psyllopsis fraxini galls on Ash are indistinguishable from those produced by P. discrepans and P. distinguenda and have been treated as an aggregate for our recording purposes.