Arizona Ash
Latin Name: Fraxinus velutina
Price range: $16.95 through $38.95
- Pot Size: 4 Inch, 1 Gallon, 3 Gallon (Local Pickup Only), 5 Gallon (Local Pickup Only)
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
Fraxinus velutina is a deciduous shade tree of desert streambanks and moist canyons, where its roots reach water that the surrounding desert cannot offer. Young trees grow upright and roughly pyramidal, then broaden into a rounded, spreading crown as they age. The compound leaves are divided into five to seven leaflets, and the undersides of young leaves carry fine hairs that feel like velvet. That soft coating gives the tree both its species name and its most common name, velvet ash. In autumn, the whole canopy turns clear golden yellow before the leaves drop.
Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Fraxinus velutina
- Plant Family: Oleaceae
- Common Names: Velvet Ash, Arizona Ash, Modesto Ash
- Origin / Native Range: Desert and foothill riparian canyons of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas, south into northern and central Mexico
- Mature Height × Width: 30–50 ft × 25–40 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun
- Irrigation Requirements: Moderate
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7–10
- Cold Hardiness: –10°F– 0°F
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Bloom Color: Greenish Yellow, inconspicuous
General Information
A young velvet ash puts most of its energy into height. The trunk runs straight, and the branches angle upward in a loose cone. With age, the crown fills out into a wide, rounded dome that casts dense summer shade. The bark starts smooth and gray-brown, then breaks into rough ridges and furrows on older trunks. Flowers open in early spring before the leaves expand, in small clusters that most people never notice. This species is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Only female trees carry fruit: flat, one-winged seeds called samaras that hang in clusters and spin as they fall.
In the wild, this tree grows where water sits within reach of its roots. It lines perennial streams, moist canyon bottoms, and washes with shallow groundwater, usually between about 2,000 and 7,000 feet. Understanding that habitat explains its behavior in a garden. It handles heat, sun, and alkaline or sandy soils well, but it is not a true desert tree in the way a mesquite or palo verde is. Established specimens tolerate dry spells, though they perform far better with deep, periodic irrigation through the hot months. Trees kept too dry often thin out, scorch at the leaf edges, and die back in the upper branches. In its native riparian woodlands, it shares the canopy with Arizona sycamore and Fremont cottonwood, and the seeds feed seed-eating birds. It also serves as a larval host plant, meaning caterpillars feed on its leaves, for the two-tailed swallowtail butterfly.
Several selections of this species, including Modesto ash, were planted widely as street trees across California and the Southwest, and that history is worth knowing. Seed-grown trees vary a great deal in form, leaf shape, and fall color, so no two are quite alike. Fast growth also produces relatively soft wood, and older trees can drop limbs in high wind. Ash species across North America now face the emerald ash borer, an introduced beetle that tunnels beneath the bark and kills trees within a few years. Southwestern populations have so far seen limited impact, but growers should stay aware of its spread. One further note: male trees release wind-carried pollen in spring, which can affect people with seasonal allergies.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
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