Pumpkin ash (Not recommended) | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Olive
Family (botanic) Oleaceae
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 65-85 feet
Mature width 30-50 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Wet soil
Tolerances Clay soil, Occasional flooding, Wet sites
Season of interest early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
Shape or form Narrow, Oval
Growth rate Fast
Planting considerations Weak wood and branch structure
Wildlife Browsers, Insect pollinators, Migrant birds, Small mammals
Has cultivars No

Native geographic location and habitat:

C-Value: 10. Commonly found in wet, lowland sites, pumpkin ash is native to coastal plains from Virginia south into northern Florida and in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys.

Bark color and texture:

The bark is light gray and ridged and furrowed into a diamond pattern.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Compound leaves are in pairs (opposite), with seven to nine leaflets on each leaf. Leaves are dark green in summer, changing to bronze or burgundy in fall.