Fraxinus profunda

RHS Plant Profile
pumpkin ash

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Fraxinus profunda?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Fraxinus tomentosa

Trees

A large tree, potentially to 30m though usually less in cultivation. It has downy young shoots and large, mid-green leaves up to 40cm long with up to nine, stalked leaflets and producing bronze to purple-red shades in autumn. Inconspicuous purple-green flowers in spring are followed by bunches of large, green then brown ash keys on female trees

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Oleaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading branched
Genus
Fraxinus are medium-sized to large, mostly deciduous trees with attractive pinnate leaves, sometimes conspicuous flowers and autumn colour, and distinctive winged fruits
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
C & E USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires a lot of space, and permanently moist soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Ash dieback has recently been found in the UK. Restrictions have been put in place (from 29 October 2012) regarding both the importation of ash from abroad and the movement of ash within the UK. May also be susceptible to honey fungus