Ash, European

Botanical name: Fraxinus excelsior

 

Other names: GB: European Ash, White Esh F: Frêne D: Esche I: Frassino VL: Essen NL: Essen, Olijfessen

 

The colour is white and turns to yellow when exposed to light. Heartwood is not demarcated from sapwood. In the heart of logs there are often brown areas, so called Brown Ash. The wood has a medium to coarse texture. Ash is a ring-porous timber, so the annual rings are clearly visible, in contrast to rays. The wood is hard and heavy with very good strength properties. Machining is well, gluing is good, also nailing and screwing. Ash has good properties for bending in processing of bent furniture.

European Ash is mainly used for furniture, veneers, flooring and stairs.