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Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis or F. americana var. texensis) is a handsome shade tree getting up to 30-45 feet high.
Once established, Texas ash is drought-tolerant. The dark-green leaves are opposite and compound with five to seven leaflets. During fall the foliage has nice color. “With redder shades on the outside and yellows on the inside, the whole tree looks like a candle flame” (Sally Wasowski, “Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region“).
Many botanists believe Texas ash is a variety of white ash (Fraxinus americana), from which it is hard to distinguish. Texas ash has five to seven leaflets, typically 5, while white ash has five to nine elongate leaflets, typically 7. White ash, native to the eastern part of the state, can grow to be a larger tree than Texas ash.
Texas ash is endemic to limestone areas of southern Oklahoma down through North Central Texas and across the Edwards Plateau, including Kendall County. Some Texas ash trees also grow in the Ft. Davis area. Texas ash should do very well in Hill Country-area yards.
This tree is adapted to well-drained calcareous soils. It is hardy, fairly fast growing, long-lived and fairly resistant to pests and disease, and it is the most drought-tolerant of the ashes usually available at nurseries.
The most commonly planted (some say overplanted) ash in local landscapes is the non-indigenous Mexican or “Arizona ash” (F. berlandandieriana), which requires a lot of irrigation, is susceptible to pests and disease, does not have fall color, and is short-lived. Texas ash is a better choice for home gardeners as well as for landscapers and developers in this area.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: ward
