Broadly spreading, evergreen. Purple to bronze foliage with red winged fruits in Jan/Feb. Tough shelter shrub for exposed and coastal conditions. Too frost tender for inland South Island areas.

Symphyomurtus more prone to insect attack. Naturally durable heavy timber, originates in mixed coastal forest of Southern NSW and S.E. Victoria on fertlie free draining soils.Tolerates seasonal flooding and light frost to -6C. Rainfall 600-2500mm, Altitude 0-500m, will coppice, and resprout epicormic growth after fire, forms a lignotuber. Not suited to dry, or exposed coastal sites. Potential for organic vineyard posts, fencing, decking and heavy construction.

Central & Southern Europe, N.W. Africa & S.W. Asia. Medium sized deciduous pioneer species. Tolerates dry and hot soils but best growth on deep moist soils, casting a heavy shade. Can be pollarded for stock feed. Buds pale brown, Leaves with 7-13 narrow leaflets, purplish autumn colour on some trees. Flowers in early spring, developing into bunches of brown samaras. Timber inferior in strength & elasticity to F. excelsior.

Manna ash - from south Europe and southwest Asia. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Bark is dark grey remaining smooth. Leaves with 5-9 broad ovoid leaflets, autumn colours yellow or purple. Conspicuous clusters of small fragrant white flowers, insect pollinated, developing into bunches of slender samaras. Sap produces a sugary extract 'manna'. Very drought tolerant and used as a street tree.