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Fraxinus albicans (Texas ash)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Fraxinus albicans

Fraxinus albicans Buckley

Texas Ash, Mountain Ash

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Synonym(s): Fraxinus americana ssp. texensis, Fraxinus americana var. texensis, Fraxinus texensis

USDA Symbol: FRAL3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Texas Ash is a small tree, 30-45 ft. tall, of limestone hills and canyons with an attractive, densely branched canopy. Pinnate leaves have brilliant fall color. Leaflets usually 5, rounded, not as elongate as in Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Wings usually not extending beyond the middle of the seed. (See Red Ash for comparison.)

Confined to Texas, except for a northern extension into the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma. This southwestern relative of White Ash (Fraxinus americana) has fewer and smaller leaflets and smaller fruit and is adapted to a warmer, less humid climate; some consider it a variety of that species. Name changed from Fraxinus texensis to correct an issue of nomenclatural priority. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees.

 

From the Image Gallery

7 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Mature tree in optimal conditions may reach 30-45 feet in height.
Autumn Foliage: yes

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: OK , TX
Native Distribution: Southern Oklahoma south through the center of Texas as far as Durango in northern Mexico
Native Habitat: Canyon bluffs; rocky slopes in open woods; along lakes.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils; often of . Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type.
Conditions Comments: Texas ash is a small tree with an attractive, densely branched canopy. Pinnate leaves have brilliant fall color. Long-lived and healthy. Very drought-tolerant. Low water requirements.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Fall conspicuous, Blooms ornamental, Attractive, Long-living, Fruits ornamental.
Use Wildlife: Substrate-insectivorous birds, Cover, Nesting site, Browse, Fruit-birds.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Deer Resistant: No

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
(Papilio glaucus)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Seed sown in fall.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 F.
Maintenance: Monitor for aphids, Remove dead growth, Prevent complete soil dryness, Fertilize 3 times a year with lawn fertilizer 3:1:2 ratio.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1446 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1643 Collected 2014-11-26 in Montague County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1434 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1429 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1445 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1642 Collected 2014-11-26 in Montague County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1629 Collected 2014-10-07 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

19 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 766 - Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.
Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-19
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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