Species of Wood: Ash (Black Ash Group)
The black ash group includes black ash (F. nigra) and pumpkin ash (F. profunda). Black ash grows in the Northeast and Midwest, and pumpkin ash in the South. The heartwood of black ash is a darker brown than that of American white ash; the sapwood is light-colored or nearly white. The wood of the black ash group is lighter in weight (basic specific gravity of 0.45 to 0.48) than that of the white ash group (>0.50). Pumpkin ash, American white ash, and green ash that grow in southern river bottoms, especially in areas frequently flooded for long periods, produce buttresses that contain relatively lightweight and brash wood. Principal uses for the black ash group are decorative veneer, abinets, millwork, furniture, cooperage, and crates.
This article is part of The Wood Handbook, published by The Forest Products Laboratory of The US Forest Department.