Fraxinus texensis (21/10/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Early spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 12m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Oleaceae
Fraxinus texensis is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown. Its dark green leaves are odd pinnate with up to 7 leaflets and up to 20cm long. Its leaflets are elliptic with serrate to entire margins, up to 7.5cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves turn orange/ red/ purple in autumn before they fall. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 30cm. Its bark is light gray with corky scaly ridges. Its purple dioecious flowers appear in loose panicles and appear as the trees leaves unfurl. Its fruit is a single winged sumara and up to 3cm long.
Fraxinus texensis Autumn Leaf (21/10/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Fraxinus texensis, commonly known as Texas Ash or Mountain Ash, is native to Texas and Oklahoma. In its native habitat it grows on rock slopes and canyons. Fraxinus texensis is synonymous with Fraxinus americana var. texensis.
The etymological root of the binomial name Fraxinus is from the ancient Latin name for Fraxinus excelsior. Texensis is derived from the Latin meaning from Texas.
The landscape architect may find Fraxinus texensis useful as a specimen tree with attractive autumn color. It is also suitable for urban situations as it it tolerant of air pollution and compacted soil. Once established this tree is drought tolerant.
Fraxinus texensis Bark (21/10/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Fraxinus texensis is of little wild life value in the UK.
Fraxinus texensis prefers moist, deep, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Fraxinus texensis requires little maintenance.
