Explore Plants
Native 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.
Cox, Paul
Fraxinus texensis (Gray) Sarg.
Texas ash
Oleaceae (Olive Family)
Synonyms: Fraxinus americana ssp. texensis, Fraxinus americana var. texensis
USDA Symbol: FRTE
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: 30-45 feet tall.
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: GreenBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: OK , TXNative Distribution: C. & n.c. TX
Native Habitat: Canyon bluffs; rocky slopes in open woods; along lakes
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Cold Tolerant: yes
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 ornamentalUse 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)
Fraxinus texensis is a larval host and/or nectar source for:|
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.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Monitor for aphids, Remove dead growth, Prevent complete soil dryness, Fertilize 3 times a year with lawn fertilizer 3:1:2 ratio
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Drought-Tolerant Trees for South-Central Texas
February 09, 2010
I would like to replace two Golden Rain Trees with native ornamentals. They should be highly drought tolerant and should not exceed 25 feet in height. They will need to be tough since they will get ...
view the full question and answer
Fast-growing shade tree for Central Texas
July 04, 2009
What is the best fastest growing shade tree for central Texas? Thanks
view the full question and answer
Tree and vine for shade and privacy
June 03, 2008
We recently added a deck in our backyard which faces west, we live in Circle C (southwest Austin). The afternoon sun is intense so we're looking to plant something along our fence line to provide sh...
view the full question and answer
Information about FanTex ash.
April 29, 2008
I live in central Texas and recenty planted Fan-tex ash trees thinking that they were similar to the native Texas ash. I am beginning to beleive that this tree has more in common with the Arizona ash...
view the full question and answer
Fast growing native trees for Austin
June 15, 2006
What are your suggestions for a fast growing native tree that will do well in the clay soils of North Central Austin? I just had a 30 foot hackberry tree fall and would like to restore some shade to m...
view the full question and answer
From the National Suppliers Directory
According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:Hill Country Natives - Leander, TX
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: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
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 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
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 pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Fraxinus texensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Fraxinus texensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fraxinus texensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2010-04-28Research By: NPC
