Manna ash vs Narrow-leaved ash

Manna ash and Narrow-leaved ash are often considered for the same spot in the garden (specimen, shade). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Manna ash

Fraxinus ornus 5 m × 3.5 m after 10 years

Manna ash is a medium-sized tree with a rounded crown that covers itself in creamy white, scented flower plumes around May and turns yellow to…

Large tree

Full sun

Narrow-leaved ash

Fraxinus angustifolia 6 m × 3.5 m after 10 years

A large tree with fine, narrow leaflets and glossy green foliage; its regional subspecies, the Hungarian or Danubian ash, is a tree of lowland…

Large tree

Full sun

Key differences

Narrow-leaved ash: We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) also kills narrow-leaved ash and its regional subspecies in Central Europe, above all on floodplains: it can kill young and mature trees alike.
Manna ash tolerates drought better than Narrow-leaved ash.
Manna ash needs less water than Narrow-leaved ash.
Manna ash needs less care than Narrow-leaved ash.

Which one to choose?

Manna ash is the safer choice: we do not recommend planting Narrow-leaved ash in most gardens.

Watch out for

Manna ash

Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which is killing common ash across Central Europe, hardly affects manna ash: at most it infects the leaves and does not normally cause shoot dieback. The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), introduced from Asia, is spreading west from Eastern Europe and is a threat to ashes in general; how badly it attacks manna ash is still uncertain, although some observations suggest it is attacked less. Young shoots can be scorched by late spring frost, and the branches are brittle in storms and under snow.

Narrow-leaved ash

Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) also kills narrow-leaved ash and its regional subspecies in Central Europe, above all on floodplains: it can kill young and mature trees alike. Susceptibility differs between individual trees and clones, and some observations suggest the species is more tolerant than European ash, but no resistant cultivar is on sale and there is no treatment. The Asian emerald ash borer threatens ashes from the east as well. 'Raywood' branches split easily when the tree grows fast in rich soil, and its vigorous roots can cause trouble near paving.

The data side by side

Feature	Manna ash	Narrow-leaved ash
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	5 m × 3.5 m (uncertain)	6 m × 3.5 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	8–15 m × 6–12 m	15–25 m × 8–12 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Medium
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High (uncertain)	High
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–June, white	March–April, yellow, green (uncertain)
Water need	Low	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Medium
Planting distance	600 cm	900 cm
For dogs	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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