When digging these trees in the nursery, the roots appear to be numerous, large, and aggressive. The most vigorous growing trees do not appear to develop as many problems. Most frustrating is the occasional “Ash decline”, or dieback, that occurs for no apparent reason. The literature lists numerous disease and insect problems for the American Ash varieties, but from my understanding, they are more serious in the East and Midwest. After their impressive fall color, the leaves drop nearly all at once perfect for one raking. The opposite pinnately compound leaves emerge a light shiny green, then darken through the year. Healthy twigs and buds are large and fat, and the tree has a clean character to it. The size of these trees can reach approximately 45' tall and wide, providing a medium size oval form tree. Of note is the fact that the Autumn Applause Ash has a much darker purple fall color. Whatever the year, though, the Autumn Purple Ash seldom disappoints anyone for fall color. Same trees can turn very different shades of their “described” fall color depending on the moisture and temperature we are having that fall.

That is one thing I have noticed both in the field, and especially in the nursery. They were spectacular at least they were that fall. I rounded a corner and saw what appeared to be large, round, purplish-orange globes on tree trunks. The first time I really noticed Autumn Purple Ash was in the fall in Puyallup, Washington.

Fall purple