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Native Plant Society of Texas

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Other common name(s):

Red Ash, Swamp Ash, River Ash, Water Ash, Darlington Ash

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

50
to
75
ft.

Spread

25
to
50
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green, Purple, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Fall Color, Forage, Nectar, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds

Maintenance

Fast growing and drought tolerant. Makes a good shade tree, Provides fall color. Native habitat: open woodlands, streams, river banks, swamps, ditches, ravines, depressions. One of the most widespread and successful native ashes, this species extends westward into the plains and nearly to the Rocky Mountains. Green Ash is also planted on spoil banks after strip mining. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms April-June. A medium sized tree, it forms an upright, spreading habit at maturity. Leaves are divided into 5 to 9 1eaflets with smooth to slightly toothed margins and pointed tips. Small flowers appear in clusters, male and female on separate trees. The fruit is a winged, green samara. Larval host: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Two-tailed tiger swallowtail, Tiger swallow-tail, Orange Sulphur, Cloudless Giant Sulphur, Mourning Cloak.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Fraxinus campestris, Fraxinus darlingtonii, Fraxinus lanceolata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. austinii, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. integerrima, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima, Fraxinus smallii

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Stored seeds require warm-moist stratification for 60 days, followed by 120 days at 32-41 degrees. It usually germinates in spring Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions or a nursery bed in late spring or early summer of the following year. If you have sufficient seed then it is possible to sow it directly into an outdoor seedbed, preferably in the autumn. Grow the seedlings on in the seedbed for 2 years before transplanting either to their permanent positions or to nursery beds. The seed is best harvested green - as soon as it is fully developed but before it has fully dried on the tree. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=FRPE 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fraxinus+pennsylvanica 3) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-fraxinus-pennsylvanica/
Seed No Treatment Fresh seed can then be sown immediately in a cold frame. It usually germinates in spring. The seed is best harvested green - as soon as it is fully developed but before it has fully dried on the tree. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fraxinus+pennsylvanica
Stem Cutting Make a clean cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears just below a node (where leaves grow). The ideal length is 6-8 inches. Remove the leaves from the bottom two inches of the cutting. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone powder to stimulate root development. Plant the cuttings in a moist rooting medium, like a mixture of peat moss and perlite. Ensure the cuttings are planted at least an inch deep, leaving the top leaves exposed. Cover the pot with a plastic dome or bag to create a humid environment, which promotes root growth. Place the pot in a bright, indirect light location. Regularly check the moisture levels and keep the medium consistently moist. It can take a few weeks to a few months for roots to develop. Once new growth appears, you know the rooting process is successful! In late summer or early fall, select healthy, mature branches that are about the thickness of a pencil. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-fraxinus-pennsylvanica/

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason