Trade names: White Ash Origin: Europe Range: Throughout Europe and parts of Southwest Asia at altitudes up to approx. 1,300 m above sea level. The best growing areas for the veneer industry are found especially in France and to some extent in Germany. Much sought after are logs without or with a small brown heart because only the “natural” white ash or lightly stained colors are considered to be high quality furniture wood. Brown heart veneers are stained dark and are used as interior veneers. Uses: Good veneer wood for furniture and interior decorating. Logs having an olive-colored heart (“Olive Ash”) as well as Ash burls are in specially high demand as Olive Ash. Also used as wood for sports equipment (parallel bars, etc., due to its high bending strength), gun stocks, tool handles and grips. Character: The sapwood is white to yellowish and very broad, up to 19 cm. The core wood retains the light yellow color of the sapwood. It is hard to differentiate between sapwood and heartwood. In aging, however, there is pronounced darkening of the heartwood with varying diameters down the lengths of the logs. Dark patches can occur as well as frequent figuring. Particularities: American ash trees have a core, that is usually gray-brown to brown.