Fraxinus angustifolia "Raywood"

Max Campbell

The tree in the title is a large Ash, which looks good at all seasons, especially autumn, when it turns dark purple.

I haven't seen any affected by ash die-back, and most of the ordinary Ash trees around here do show signs.

All trade in all Fraxinus spp is banned.

Would it be ethical to acquire a UK-grown specimen? If yes, anyone suggest somewhere / someone?

How could you propagate one, bearing in mind that all existing examples that I know are on roadside verges, so no air-layering, or whatever, is possible?

fidgetbones

Try Deepdale trees ltd

Its listed on their website.

Max Campbell

Tried them, it was them that said no Uk grower can sell any Fraxinus.

Dovefromabove

And that's the information on here too http://www.crown-nursery.co.uk/products/ornamental-and-native-trees/f-j/#F

There are regulations in place in an attempt to save the UK's ash trees.  We are just about to have one of our large ashes felled as it is very poorly and we're really going to miss it.

Everyone should adhere to the regulations - we need to try to save as many ashes as we can and not risk spreading the disease.

Max Campbell

Couldn't agree more, Dove, but the original questions still stand.

nutcutlet

 

No it wouldn't be ethical. 

Dovefromabove

Dovefromabove wrote (see)

... Everyone should adhere to the regulations ...

Thought that answered the question - not ethical - definintely not.

Max Campbell

You could acquire without trading, and then again what is wrong, ethically, with propagating, which wouldn't break any regulations?

How would importing a "clean" tree into an affected area increase the spread? IF this cultivar is resistant, it could very well help out a native Ash's commensals as the natives die out.

I think the cessation of trading is to prevent import.

Max Campbell

jo47 is right, so looks like we will have to give up on the Raywood. We have planted an Oak, will be planting more, and others, but it would have been nice to have a Fraxinus to take over from the 4 mature common Ashes we have that are currently fading away.

Dovefromabove

Given that Dr Anne Edwards and the John Innes Institute is just up the road from here in Norfolk https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/2015/06/dr-anne-edwards-presented-british-empire-medal/

and there are lots of Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood' around here as they were introduced to the UK by Notcutts who are an East Anglian firm; if they are resistant to Chalara I'm sure it will soon be noticed. 

However, it should be pointed out that Fraxinus angustifolia is a different species to Fraxinus excelsior - our native common ash.