Arizona ash
Fraxinus velutina 路 Oleaceae 路 also Velvet ash, Modesto ash, Desert ash
A fast-growing round-headed shade tree (30-50 feet) with compound leaves that turn yellow in fall, native to far West Texas streambanks and planted by the thousands in Austin and San Antonio subdivisions in the 1970s-1990s for quick shade. It is short-lived (often declining after 25-30 years), prone to borers, storm breakage and decline, and like all North American ashes it is now threatened by the emerald ash borer, which has reached Texas. Austin's Grow Green guide lists only the native Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis) as appropriate for the area.
Where it stands
Native
- 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Also native in: AZ, CA, NV, UT (USDA PLANTS distribution)source
- 馃嚭馃嚫 NM, United Statessource
- 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United States 路 Native only to the Trans-Pecos of far West Texas; widely planted but not native in Central Texas. Not on Austin lists: the City of Austin Grow Green guide calls Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis) the 'only Ash appropriate for Austin area' and notes susceptibility to emerald ash borersource
Adapted
- 馃嚭馃嚫 Austin, TX, United States 路 Widely planted in Austin since the 1970s but short-lived and not on any City of Austin or TreeFolks recommended list; Grow Green recommends Texas ash insteadsource
Care
Not recommended for new planting in Central Texas; where it is native in the Trans-Pecos it is a reasonable fast shade tree with regular deep watering. Existing trees: water deeply in drought, prune out dead wood in winter, and watch for emerald ash borer symptoms (thinning crown, D-shaped exit holes, woodpecker damage); untreated infested trees die within a few years. Plan a replacement such as cedar elm, chinkapin oak or Texas ash.
Benefits
Good for