Challenges
A lot of ash trees were planted in urban areas, but insects and disease decimated their numbers. They are identified by their opposite branching pattern, two branches coming off the main stem directly across from each other, and compound leaves.
Black ash, Fraxinus nigra, has compound leaves with 7-11 leaflets and irregularly grooved bark.
Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, has compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets that turn yellow in the fall and is the most widespread native ash in the United States.
White ash, Fraxinus americana, has compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets that turn deep purple or maroon in the fall. Its bark is rough with diamond-shaped ridges
Help Budburst find these important Chicagoland native plants!
Burning bush, Euonymus alatus, has corky wings on its branches, differentiating it from similar shrubs. Its oval, opposite leaves turn bright red in the fall. Forming sizable groupings in woodlands, it displaces other plants making it a problematic invasive.
Help Budburst find this invasive plant so that it can be better controlled!
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