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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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: 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 , PurpleBloom Time: Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: OK , TXNative 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: LowLight 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 |
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: 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-1630 Collected 2014-10-07 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterLBJWC-1442 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1632 Collected 2014-10-07 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1431 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-1643 Collected 2014-11-26 in Montague County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1432 Collected 2012-10-20 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
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 ChapterAdditional resources
USDA: Find Fraxinus albicans in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Fraxinus albicans in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fraxinus albicans
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-19Research By: Joseph A. Marcus