Manna ash, flower ash, Fraxinus ornus

A manna ash, also known as a flower ash, is a medium-sized tree that is quite beautiful to look at, and which can be a lot of fun as a house tree, especially in the warm season. Due to its slightly more modest size, it fits perfectly in the garden or in front of the house, where it can provide plenty of shade in summer and provide a nice home for songbirds. However, to ensure that the manna ash always looks well-groomed, manual work must be done on a regular basis.

Manna Ash - Size as an advantage

The manna ash or flower ash only grows to about 10 meters tall, which makes it so popular as a house tree. In addition, it does not grow more than 20 cm per year on average and therefore requires little work in terms of care and pruning. Its round crown not only produces lots of green leaves, but also blooms in May and June. The white flowers not only look beautiful, but also smell very pleasant. In autumn, the foliage turns purple and is a great eye-catcher. And since it only needs a little water, tolerates heat well and also has few problems with air pollution, it can definitely find its new home in the middle of a big city. All in all, the medium-sized tree is a good alternative to large oaks or other trees that are more difficult to care for and handle.

Care

House trees like the manna ash are actually quite uncomplicated to look after. They are grateful when they can call a sunny and sufficiently large spot their own where they can grow and thrive in peace.
The following things must be observed:

• the manna ash requires little water
• she loves it sunny and warm
• no special soil or fertilizer is required

planting

Autumn or winter should be selected for planting Fraxinus ornus. The trees are leafless at this time of year, making them easier to manage. In addition, they are often only offered in tree nurseries and garden centers at this time. The trees are usually available without a root ball. The roots are bare and the tree, which is still small, has been cut back quite heavily. It should therefore be brought into the ground as quickly as possible so that it cannot suffer any major damage.

However, if the manna ash can be purchased in a container, planting does not have to be done immediately. The tree then has enough soil to remain in the container for a few days. It would be important that it is relatively sunny and that it gets some water every now and then.

Location

A manna ash likes it warm, dry and sunny. It should therefore only be planted in appropriate areas. The soil should not be too moist, otherwise the roots could become moldy and the moisture will not help the tree to grow. Despite the preferred warm temperatures, the Manna ash is not sensitive to frost. The prerequisite for this, however, is the fact that it has grown well in advance. Fraxinus ornus does not need special protection for the winter such as a tarpaulin or a ring around the trunk. The floor does not have to be covered either.

growth

Since the manna ash grows very slowly, the tree should be supported in the first few years. The trunk is very slender at the beginning and could quickly break in strong winds or careless people and animals alike. With an appropriate support, you can prevent it and the tree can grow in peace.

watering and fertilizing

In principle, the manna ash does not have to be additionally watered. It should only be given a little water in the first few weeks after planting. Otherwise, the water that the rain brings is enough for her. Exceptions only exist if there should be a very long dry period. Then it can't be wrong to tip a few cans of water onto the tree. The roots will absorb the water quickly and store it for a long time. And there are no special rules when it comes to fertilizing either. The very easy-care tree does not require any special fertilizer. If there is some humus left, it can be worked into the soil around the tree. However, it is not urgently needed for growth. Chemical fertilizers should not be used at all, as they play no role in the development and growth of the tree.

Positive characteristics

With good care, the Manna Ash makes wonderful firewood. The calorific value is about as high as that of a beech or an oak. Cut branches therefore do not have to be disposed of, but can be burned.

In addition, the wood of the manna ash is very hard and at the same time elastic. It is very popular in the furniture industry for the production of high-quality parquet or stairs, furniture and sports equipment. If you have children, you can also make a wonderful speed bow out of the branches. The branches are so elastic that the bow will shoot many arrows.

Cut

Care should be taken when pruning the manna ash. The trees grow very slowly and therefore do not have to be cut back constantly. This is only recommended if some branches are too long or overlap with other branches. Then you can grab the hedge trimmers in spring and the tree gets a new look. However, a cut would also be conceivable if the tree is only to reach a limited height because the space available is not too large.

frequently asked Questions

Worth knowing about the Mana Ash shortly

Cultivate as a house tree

The flower ash (Fraxinus ornus) grows up to ten meters high, but grows very slowly at around 20 cm per year and is therefore also suitable for smaller gardens. It forms a round crown and blooms from May to June with numerous white flowers that are very fragrant. But their feathery foliage, which turns slightly purple in autumn, is also very decorative. This tree is also suitable for urban areas because it copes well with heat, drought and air pollution. It can stand alone, but is also often used as a street tree for an avenue.

Cultivate as a standard

The flower ash is also sold on a standard in gardening shops and can be cultivated as a container plant on the terrace because of its slow growth. In this case, however, the tub should be wrapped in fleece or bubble wrap during the winter to protect the root area from frost.

care and cut

• House trees are best planted in the leafless period from October to March and are usually only available in tree nurseries during this time.
• There they are usually sold bare-rooted, i.e. without a root ball, and should therefore be planted as soon as possible - but only if the ground is not frozen.
• The flower ash grows best in warm and dry areas and should therefore be given a sunny spot with soil that is not too moist.
• As soon as it is well established, it is very frost hardy and therefore does not need any special protection for the winter.
• Pruning is usually not necessary, but branches that are too long can be shortened in spring if necessary.
• In this case, however, it is to be expected that the flowering will be less in the following summer.

use in medicine

When branches and twigs of the flower ash are cut, they exude a sap that quickly hardens in the air. This juice contains, among other things, mannitol, a sugar alcohol also known as mannitol. This substance is used in medicine to treat various diseases and for prophylaxis. This includes, for example, poisoning, but also prophylactic treatment after an operation to prevent kidney failure.

Learn more about deciduous trees in the garden