The leaves turn a rich plum purple in autumn. The straight species of this cultivar is native to the Mediterranean. The compound pinnate leaves are composed of 7 to 9, sharply serrated, dark green leaflets. Natural History: The Raywood Ash is a fine-textured, deciduous tree, which is capable of reaching more than 80 feet in height, but will more commonly be 40-50 feet tall (1). Raywood Ash (Common Name) Fraxinus angustifolia (Scientific Name) PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Canopy potential: 20’ – 30’ wide Annual Growth Rate: 24” A very handsome tree that is narrow in habit when young and opens up as it matures. Mediterranean native with fast growth rate and oval, upright crown shape. Raywood Ash Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood' A large deciduous tree native to the Mediterranean with a straight, narrow trunk and a dense, rounded crown perfect for casting summer shade. Surface roots can be a problem, plant at least 20 feet away from foundations. Surface roots can be a problem on wet sites and on clay soil but they otherwise grow in a range of soil from sand to clay. Raywood ash is one of those mainstay cultivated varieties landscape architects and wholesale growers love for its rapid growth, symmetrical canopy shape, and ease of maintenance. The cultivar has many adaptations typical of a Mediterranean species but is widely used in cultivation throughout the western United States (2). The cultivar `Raywood' has exceptionally striking red fall foliage and produces no seeds; it is often known as the `Claret Ash'. Although trees can tolerate wet sites, they will perform much better in well-drained conditions.