The large leaves are very similar to those of the North American black ash (F. nigra) and some botanists consider these two to be related subspecies. In the wild Manchurian ash grows in sparse mountain slope forests and open river valley groves in East Asia. It is naturally adapted to a continental climate, which makes it frost-hardier than Finland’s native ash, but at the same time much more susceptible to late spring frosts. This means that in Finland it is best suited to sheltered sites in eastern parts of the country.