Habitat: This species grows primarily on upland slopes and ridges in Iowa, seldom on bottomlands where green ash predominates. Only the seedlings are tolerant of shade, and are usually abundant in forests. Grown trees are intermediately shade tolerant and are seldom a dominant forest species. They are pH adaptable, tolerate soils that are not too rocky and dry, but develop well only on the most fertile soils.
Diseases:
A major insect problem is the ash gall mite which feeds on the male flowers,
causing the flower clusters to develop irregularly branched galls that remain
on the tree until spring. The vigor of the tree is not affected, but the
galls can be unsightly. Control measures are unnecessary unless seed is
required. White ash is subject to progressive decline, "ash yellows,"
caused by a phytoplasma. Borers, aphids and sawflies can be problematic,
as can anthracnose, leaf spot and rust.
Distribution: The white ash is an eastern species, hardy from zone 3 to 9, occurring from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. In Iowa it is found west to the Cedar River in northern Iowa, to the Des Moines River and its tributaries in central Iowa, and to the Missouri River in southern Iowa.
