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Fraxinus ornus

About Your New Fraxinus ornus

Fraxinus ornus, the Manna Ash or Flowering Ash, is a deciduous tree with an oval to rounded crown and smooth grey bark. Dark green pinnate leaves turn yellow gold before falling. Its distinction is the flowering: dense, fragrant, creamy white panicles that cover the whole canopy in spring, uncommon in a genus better known for foliage.

It prefers full sun and free draining soil, and coming from Mediterranean country it copes well with dry summers, alkaline ground and limestone. Frost is not an issue for an established tree. Growth is moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, and the canopy is bare from late autumn until the leaves return in spring.

At 7 to 10 metres tall and 4 to 6 metres wide it fits suburban front gardens, courtyards, small parks and residential streets where the larger ashes are simply too big. The flowers sit close to eye level from the footpath, which is worth planning for. One tree gives you spring flower, autumn colour and a manageable final size.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Manna Ash

What is Manna Ash?

Manna Ash is Fraxinus ornus, a deciduous flowering tree from southern Europe and western Asia, also sold as Flowering Ash. It is grown for the fragrant creamy white flowers that smother the canopy in spring, backed up by yellow gold autumn foliage. The common name comes from the sweet sap traditionally tapped from the bark in Sicily.

How big does Manna Ash grow?

Mature height is 7 to 10 metres with a spread of 4 to 6 metres, forming an oval to rounded crown. It is one of the smaller ashes, which makes it workable in a front garden or a residential street where a 15 metre shade tree would be out of scale. Allow the full width rather than planting hard against a fence.

When does Manna Ash flower?

Flowering is in spring, typically October and November in southern Australia and a little earlier in warmer districts. Fragrant creamy white panicles cover the canopy for two to three weeks and are followed by winged seed. Trees flower more heavily with age and in full sun; a young tree may take a few seasons to put on a full display.

Is Manna Ash drought tolerant?

It is one of the more drought tolerant ashes, having evolved on dry, stony Mediterranean hillsides, and an established tree holds up well through a hot, dry summer. It also takes alkaline and limestone soils that trouble other species. Young trees still need regular deep watering for the first two or three summers before that toughness sets in.

Does Manna Ash need sun or shade?

Full sun is the position to choose. It gives the heaviest flowering, the best autumn colour and a compact, well balanced crown. The tree will grow in partial shade, but flowering thins out and the branches reach for the light, which spoils the rounded shape. Shelter from strong salt wind is worthwhile on exposed coastal sites.

Is Manna Ash suitable for street or verge planting?

Yes, and it is widely used that way. The modest 7 to 10 metre height suits verges with overhead constraints, the trunk lifts cleanly for pedestrian and vehicle clearance, and the tree tolerates compacted soil and reflected heat. The spring flowering at close range is the reason councils and developers choose it over a plain green shade tree.

How do I care for Manna Ash?

Water deeply through the first two or three summers, then reduce as the tree establishes. Mulch to a wide ring, kept off the trunk. Prune in late winter while it is bare, lifting the lower limbs and taking out any crossing branches; avoid heavy pruning, which costs you the next spring flowering. Feed lightly in early spring on poor soil.

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Uses in my Garden

  • Feature Tree
  • Avenue Planting
  • Council or Civic Landscapes
  • Shade Tree

Fraxinus ornus works in an:

  • Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
  • Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
  • Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
  • Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

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