The genus fraxinus has about a dozen deciduous trees and shrubs, originating from Europe, Asia and North America; F. excelsior a tree native to Europe, which in nature reaches 25-30 m in height; it has compound leaves, consisting of 9-13 small oval leaves, dark green in color, which turn golden yellow in autumn, before falling. At the beginning of spring, before emitting the leaves, it produces small, inconspicuous whitish flowers, followed by samaras with a papery consistency; The erect trunk, very branched, with dark and cracked bark even in quite young specimens, to which it gives an ancient appearance, which greatly benefits the aesthetics of the bonsai. F. latifolia, native to North America, produces small yellowish flowers in spring, has bright green leaves. This plant is particularly suitable for the formal erect style, with two trunks or windblown; it is generally not recommended for beginners, as it is not always easy to obtain leaves of the appropriate size, and due to the vigorous growth of the plant, which generally only allows for the setting of large or giant bonsai.

Pruning: crown formation pruning is generally done in autumn, or at the end of winter; throughout the vegetative period, from March to September, the shoots are pinched: after they have produced at least 4-5 leaves they are cut leaving one or two leaves. In the same period you can set the branches using the metal wire.

Display: the ash is an outdoor bonsai, which does not fear the cold, although it is advisable to repair the plants in the coldest months of the year, using non-woven fabric. Place the pot in a sunny place, or in partial shade, taking care to shade the plant from late spring to summer, to avoid excessive insolation. Watering: water regularly from March to September, allowing the soil to dry up almost completely between one watering and the other; in the hottest months of the year it is good to remember to water often, to prevent the earthen bread from drying out excessively. At the beginning of the vegetative period, fertilize with nitrogen-rich fertilizers; at the end of summer fertilize with fertilizers rich in phosphorus, at least every 20-25 days.

Soil: the ideal soil for ash trees consisting of a part of tobra, a part of sand and three parts of clay; these plants grow quite quickly, producing a conspicuous root system, therefore it is good to repot the young specimens every two years, at the end of winter, or at the beginning of spring, before the vegetative restart. The many-year-old specimens are repotted every 4-5 years.

Pests and diseases: these plants generally do not suffer the attack of parasites in a massive way; plants grown as bonsai can suffer from the infestation of aphids, mites and scale insects.