Ash

Distribution

Ash trees grow commonly throughout the eastern United States in mixed hardwood forests, from the north in New York State to the southern States along the Gulf of Mexico, and everywhere in between. They grow high in the mountains and low on the plains and coastal areas giving rise to great variety of character. With such widespread distribution in latitude, climate and soil conditions, there are significant variations in ash depending on location, in particular between the slower grown northern and faster grown southern trees. There are also sub-species that add to this variety. Despite some longer-term threats by forest pests and disease to the ash standing stock of timber, ash is a prolific species. 

Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data shows U.S. ash growing stock is 657 million m3, 4.5% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American ash is growing 3.3 million m3/per year while the harvest is 6.9 million m3 per year. Net volume (after harvest) is increasing -3.5 million m3 each year. The 2014 inventory indicates that U.S. ash growth exceeds harvest in all major supplying states except Michigan and Ohio, which are central to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. Ash mortality rates and removals are expected to rise in the immediate future, likely in excess of growth in some states, due to the EAB infestation.

Ash is readily available as sawn lumber and veneer, in a wide range of grades and sizes. In the north the sapwood tends to be less due to the shorter growing season, than in the south where the wood is grown faster with more open grain and texture. Ash may be sold on the basis of color and is widely available for export. Ash was the 4th major American hardwood species to be exported worldwide by volume in 2015.