NICE! Plant of the Month
(Fraxinus texenis)
Family: Oleaceae (Olive Family)
Type: Small deciduous tree.
Natural Habitat: Rocky slopes and lakeshores in Central and North Central Texas.
Growth: 30-45 feet in height, space 20-30 feet apart.
Deer Resistance: Cage trees.
Wildlife: Many species of birds and small mammals feed on the seeds, which are produced in abundance. It is a host plant to the tiger swallowtail butterfly.
Light Tolerance: Part shade to full sun.
Flowers: Very small, purple, in small branching clusters; male and female separate; appear with the leaves in March.
Fruit: About 1 inch long, single long wing off the end of each seed.
Leaves: Beautiful fall colors: leaves turn yellow, bronze, copper, pumpkin, tangerine, plum, mauve, dusty rose, and lime. One author says the tree looks like a candle flame in the fall. The leaves are pinnately compound, 5-8 inches long; smooth edges.
Water Requirements: This is our most drought tolerant ash.
Soil Requirements: Sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone, well-drained.
Maintenance: This is our most drought tolerant ash!
Planting Instructions: Space plants 20-30 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions after planting: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: This is one of our best shade trees. Texas Ash has strong, hard wood and is fairly fast growing, yet strong and healthy. Arizona Ash Franxinus velutina and Mexican Ash Franxinus berlandieriana are more frequently planted, but need more water and do not have the fall colors of Texas Ash.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
