Fraxinus excelsior 'Jaspidea'
Although ash is a deciduous tree with the buttery yellow leaves turning and falling in autumn, it still looks very attractive through the winter, with bright yellow young shoots contrasting with its dark, sooty-like black buds.
At RHS Garden Hyde Hall there are several great examples of this ash on Clover Hill and also by the entrance to the Hilltop Garden.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Ash ‘Jaspidea’
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Height & spread
- 20m (70ft) high x 15m (50ft) wide
- Form
- Deciduous tree
- Soil
- Fertile, moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
- Aspect
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Fraxinus
This is a genus of about 45 species of mainly deciduous trees usually found in woodland in Europe, Asia and North America. The leaves are opposite and pinnate, light to dark green and 5-50cm (2-20in) long. The flowers are borne in terminal or axillary panicles or racemes, from spring to early summer.
Ashes are grown for their habit and foliage and known for their single-seeded, winged fruits.
Ashes are excellent specimen trees for woodland or coastal gardens. Grow non-fruiting cultivars in areas with warm summers, otherwise self-sown seedlings can cause problems. Be careful with lichens growing on the bark of these trees, as some may aggravate skin allergies.
Fraxinus excelsior 'Jaspidea'
Fraxinus excelsior, the common ash tree, is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with conspicuous yellow buds in winter. It has pinnate, dark green leaves up to 30cm (12in) long, with 9-11 or 13 oval leaflets that turn yellow in autumn. It can grow up to 30m (100ft) high by 20m (70ft) wide. The specific epithet excelsior means “taller”.
Fraxinus excelsior 'Jaspidea' has yellow winter shoots and yellow leaves in spring and autumn. It usually reaches about 20m (70ft) tall, slightly less than the species.
Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun.
- Generally free of pests and disease in the British Isles.
Propagation
- Stratify seed over winter, or chill for two to three months in a refrigerator before sowing. Sow seed in spring or autumn in containers in an open frame.
- Graft cultivars in spring on to seedling stock of the same species.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Fraxinus excelsior ‘Jaspidea’ AGM an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
"Vigorous medium-sized deciduous tree with yellow young shoots conspicuous in winter. Leaves pinnate, yellow when young and also in autumn. Flowers inconspicuous."