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White ash identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
White ash, Fraxinus americana, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long with 7 leaflets that are toothed or smooth-edged and paler underneath. Bark: Ashy gray to brown with corky ridges that cross to form clear diamond shapes. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify white ash
| Leaf type | Opposite, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long with 7 leaflets that are toothed or smooth-edged and paler underneath. |
| Bark | Ashy gray to brown with corky ridges that cross to form clear diamond shapes. |
| Fruit | Single-winged seeds with a plump, rounded seed end, ripe in fall and dropping through winter. |
| Twigs | Stout, hairless gray-green twigs; leaf scars are rounded at the bottom and notched at the top. |
| Size and shape | Up to about 80 feet with a straight, clear trunk on good sites. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is white ash native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white ash as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like white ash
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 6 to 9 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed, narrow leaflets, smooth or silky underneath. |
| Black ash Fraxinus nigra | Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 10 to 14 inches long with 7 to 11 toothed leaflets that have no stalks, with brown hair tufts underneath. |
| Blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata | Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 7 to 11 inches long with 7 to 11 toothed leaflets, shiny on top. |
| Boxelder Acer negundo | Opposite, compound leaves. A maple with compound leaves: 3 to 5 leaflets (sometimes 7), each 2 to 4 inches long with coarse teeth or shallow lobes, often shaped like small maple leaves. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other ashes in Pennsylvania
Pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda).
Questions
How do you identify white ash?
Look for opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 8 to 12 inches long with 7 leaflets that are toothed or smooth-edged and paler underneath. Bark: Ashy gray to brown with corky ridges that cross to form clear diamond shapes.
Is white ash native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white ash as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does white ash get?
Up to about 80 feet with a straight, clear trunk on good sites.
How can you tell white ash in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout, hairless gray-green twigs; leaf scars are rounded at the bottom and notched at the top. Bark: Ashy gray to brown with corky ridges that cross to form clear diamond shapes.
What tree looks like white ash?
Green ash, Black ash, Blue ash, Boxelder. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Fraxinus americana fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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