Fraxinus excelsior Abiona

Fraxinus excelsior Abiona is a dwarf variety of common ash or tall ash. Much smaller than the common ash, this variety does not exceed 1m in height at maturity. It forms a straight and compact miniature tree with an erect pyramidal habit. Its lateral branches are stout and thick, and its new leaves are initially light green before darkening in summer. Insignificant yellow-red panicles of flowers appear in April-May. In autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow, while winged fruits also adorn the bush. This dwarf ash changes several times throughout the seasons, creating animation on a small scale. Undemanding, it can be planted in the garden or in a pot.

Fraxinus excelsior, commonly known as the common ash or tall ash, is a tree of the olive family, just like the olive tree, jasmine, privet, or lilac. It is mainly found in Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia, where it is present on riverbanks, as well as in forests. It can reach a height of 20 to 30 metres and live up to 150 to 200 years. Its trunk is generally straight and its crown elongated. 

The Abiona variety has all the characteristics of a tree in silhouette, in miniature form. Erect, straight, pyramidal, its dimensions are very compact, reaching 1m in height and 70 to 80cm in width at maturity. The spring flowering occurs in April-May in yellow-red panicles of flowers. The thick branches are greenish-grey and rigid, and the leaves are pinnate, composed of 7 to 13 leaflets, elliptical and pointed at the tip. In spring, the leaves emerge in light green and gradually darken to dark green, creating a contrast of colours until summer. Then, in autumn, they turn bright yellow, accompanied by decorative winged fruits, samaras, which remain attached to the tree for a long time.

The Abiona common ash can be planted in any garden, as well as on a terrace. It brings the silhouette of a tree in miniature form. You can even have fun creating a miniature garden around it. It enlivens the garden with its numerous seasonal stages. It is robust and resistant to winter cold to -20°C. It tolerates different soils, slightly acidic to alkaline, well-drained, rich, and moist. It prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. It is sensitive to extreme conditions: waterlogged or muddy soil where water stagnates, as well as drought and scorching sun in high heat. Whether in a pot or in the ground, its bare deciduous branches in winter remain decorative, and throughout the rest of the year, its changing foliage, flowers, and fruits attract attention. Pair it with shrubs of different sizes with evergreen and deciduous foliage, such as dwarf conifers and flowering shrubs with small perennials at their base.