David Hungerford Ashton OAM (6 July 1927 – 22 November 2005) was an Australian botanist and ecologist.
He was the world expert on Eucalyptus regnans forests, claimed to be the most important timber species in Australia.
He taught for thirty years at the University of Melbourne, from 1962 to 1992, influencing several generations of Victorian botanists and foresters.
He was also able to synthesise many biological problems ecologically, especially in Mountain Ash forests including geology, plant and animal species interactions, the effects of fire and climate, insect and seed dispersal.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001, "For service to the science of plant ecology, particularly in the areas of forest regeneration, conservation and management.