Fraxinus americana 'Autumn Applause'

Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ (White ash ‘Autumn Applause’, synonym Fraxinus americana ‘Appldell’) was selected in 1975 by Wandell’s Nursery of Urbana, USA, where the tree stood out on account of its magnificent purple-red autumn foliage. Cultivar ‘Autumn Applause’ grows more slowly than the species, has denser branches, with a more upright oval crown shape and remains slightly smaller and narrower than the other cultivars. However, Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ is still a quick-growing, fairly large tree with an ultimate height of twelve metres, and seven to eight metres wide. 

The dark green emerging, compound leaf of ‘Autumn Applause’ has a grey-white underside and is smaller and smoother than that of the selection ‘Autumn Purple’.  The autumn colour appears very early on and puts on a stunning display in deep shades of chestnut-red to dark violet; the leaf falls quite early from the tree once it has changed colour. Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ has lighter, less conspicuous and later emerging winter buds than Fraxinus excelsior. At the end of April or early May ‘Autumn Applause’ produces insignificant purple-green catkins; the selection is male and so does not bear any seeds. Juvenile trees have smooth stems which are sensitive to sunburn but with maturity Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ acquires a deeply grooved trunk with heavy, grey-brown branches.

Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ prefers moist, acid soils but adapts to most soils and levels of acidity and also tolerates dry soils. The selection tolerates semi-paved areas and salt spray and thanks to its deep taproot the tree has a firm anchor which also makes it wind-resistant. ‘Autumn Applause’ is very suitable for broad avenues and streets but also as a park tree for spacious growing sites. Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ has so far shown little or no effect from ash dieback.