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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Fraxinus cuspidata (Fragrant ash)
Anderson, Wynn

Fraxinus cuspidata

Fraxinus cuspidata Torr.

Fragrant Ash, Flowering Ash

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Synonym(s): Fraxinus cuspidata var. macropetala

USDA Symbol: FRCU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Fragrant ash or flowering ash is a small tree or large shrub growing to a maximum height of 20 ft. Branches are slender and the bark is smooth gray, becoming scaly with age. Pinnate leaves, which become shiny dark-green, appear at the same time as the fragrant flowers. These unfurl in clusters 3-4 in. long. Each of the four, white petals is divided into long narrow lobes.

 

From the Image Gallery

25 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers in 3 inch panicles

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , NV , TX
Native Distribution: W. TX to AZ & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes, Canyons

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Limestone or black clay soils. Limestone-based, Caliche type, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Aromatic, Understory tree, Attractive, Blooms ornamental
Use Wildlife: Cover, Nesting site, Browse, Seeds-granivorous birds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Swallowtail butterflies.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
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 on display at the following locations:

Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1626 Collected 2014-10-01 in Brewster County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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

Bibliography

Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
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 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-05
Research By: TWC Staff

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