Green Ash vs Red Maple - TreeTime.ca

Green Ash vs Red Maple

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Acer rubrum

Green Ash
Red Maple

Green ash is a fast growing tree with incredible golden yellow leaves in fall. This tree is native to the prairies and is well suited for drought and cold. Green ash can also tolerate soil compaction, periods of flooding and a wide variety of soils including alkaline. This makes green ash ideally suited for use in urban environments.

Red Maple is a beautiful deciduous tree that blooms with small red flowers in the spring. It is one of the first trees to change colour in the fall, turning a brilliant reddish-orange colour. It is one of the most common and widespread maples in North America.

Red Maple is a great choice for parks and large gardens where there is ample room for its root system.

Important note: Red Maple leaves are toxic to horses if ingested in quantity.

Green Ash Quick Facts

Red Maple Quick Facts

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Lowest Price: $12.49 - SAVE UP TO 26%
Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: none


Toxicity: wilted leaves toxic to horses
Fall colour: bright yellow in early fall
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Seeds: seeds located within samaras
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)

In row spacing: 2.4 - 4 m (8 - 12 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: downy ash, red ash, swamp ash, water ash
Other Names: soft maple, swamp maple, water maple