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Native Plant Database

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Fraxinus berlandieriana (Mexican ash)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Fraxinus berlandieriana DC.

Mexican ash, Fresno, Berlandier ash

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

USDA Symbol: FRBE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Mexican ash is a small, round-topped tree to 30 ft. The light brown bark of young plants becomes much darker and the plants age. Small tree with short trunk and rounded crown of spreading branches. Gray-green to bright-green deciduous leaves are pinnately compound.

Berlandier Ash, a southwestern relative of Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), has fewer and smaller leaflets and smaller fruit and is adapted to a warmer, less humid climate.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: LA , TX
Native Distribution: S. TX to NM & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Wooded stream banks; canyons
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Various soils. Limestone-based, Caliche type Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Leafs out earlier and holds leaves longer than many ashes. Rapid growth. This is deemed a weed tree by organizations (e.g., TX Forest and Agriculture Extension Service) because of its short life span, susceptibility to pests and disease, and habit of constantly dropping small, dead branches.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Long-living, Fast growing, Shade tree
Use Wildlife: Cover, Nesting site, Seeds-granivorous birds, Browse.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Two-tailed tiger swallowtail, Tiger swallow-tail, Orange sulphur, Sleepy orange, Cloudless giant sulphur.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Fraxinus berlandieriana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Orange Sulphur
(Colias eurytheme)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Sleepy Orange
(Abaeis nicippe)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Giant Sulphur
(Colias gigantea)
Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Seeds may be sown outdoors after collection or stored and stratified then sown in spring.
Seed Treatment: Stratify in moist sand or perlite for 30-60 days at 41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Fraxinus berlandieriana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Fraxinus berlandieriana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fraxinus berlandieriana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-05-31
Research By: TWC Staff

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