The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood.Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. The grain is almost always straight and regular, though sometimes moderately curly or figured boards can be found.
Ring-porous; large earlywood pores 2-4 rows wide, small latewood pores solitary and radial multiples; tyloses common; parenchyma banded (marginal), paratracheal parenchyma around latewood pores vasicentric, winged and confluent; narrow rays, spacing normal.
Heartwood is rated as perishable, or only slightly durable in regard to decay. Ash is also not resistant to insect attack.Produces good results with hand or machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Ash is among the least expensive utility hardwoods available domestically; it should compare similarly to oak in terms of price.This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
