The green ash is the most wide-spread of three ash species native to the State of Maine. Ash are are fast-growing and are commonly found in disturbed forest and along river banks. The wood of the green ash is often used as a source of firewood, and the bark of the north-eastern subspecies has been used for dye and a source of potash.
This collection represents subspecies of green ash from across North America. Initially planted as a research collection to observe differences in each of the subspecies. As ash across the country are threatened by emerald ash borer, this collection could offer a unique research opportunity in the future to observe differences in resistance to invasive species such as the emerald ash borer.
The green ash and many other species of ash across North America are under threat from the introduced emerald ash borer. While we have several native species of boring beetles, the emerald ash borer presents a unique threat as it will bore into living trees while most native species bore exclusively in dead trees. Introduced species also lack native predators, causing their populations to expand unchecked.
