Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Fraxinus griffithii C.B. Clarke

Family

Oleaceae

Common Names

evergreen ash, evergreen ash tree, evergreen flowering ash, flowering ash, Formosan ash, Griffith's ash, Himalayan ash, Philippine ash

Origin

Native to the Indian Sub-continent (i.e. Bangladesh and India), China, Taiwan and south-eastern Asia (i.e. Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is sparingly naturalised in south-eastern Queensland and possibly naturalised in the coastal districts of central New South Wales.

Notes

Himalayan ash (Fraxinus griffithii) is commonly cultivated as a street and garden tree, particularly in the warmer parts of eastern Australia. It has only been common in cultivation in recent times, and has become popular as a street tree because of its low-growing habit (i.e. it does not interfere with power lines).

This species is beginning to spread from cultivation and is showing invasive tendencies in the coastal districts of eastern Australia. Large numbers of seedlings are often seen growing under adult trees, and its windblown seeds are germinating in nearby natural habitats. For example, it has become naturalised at Maleny on the Sunshine Coast in south-eastern Queensland, where it is spreading from plantings into nearby rainforest areas.

Himalayan ash (Fraxinus griffithii) is also invading shaded habitats in riparian areas along the Enoggera Creek catchment in northern Brisbane. In addition to this, there are unconfirmed reports that it is naturalised in other parts of south-eastern Queensland (e.g. on the Gold Coast, in Toowoomba and in other parts of Brisbane). Himalayan ash (Fraxinus griffithii ) is also listed as an "alert weed" in the Sydney North region in New South Wales.