Native Ash Trees In California: 4 Types To Know
One native species in the US that is in danger of dying out because of beetles is the ash tree. In many states like Virginia and the lower south, the species is already classified as endangered.
However, California is one state where the population has not decreased massively and you can easily spot them in Riparian woods and similar habitats.
This article explores all 4 native ash trees in California along with their full details including characteristics, habitat, native range, and practical uses.
1. Oregon Ash
- Common Name: Oregon Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus latifolia
- Mature Height: 35-80ft
- Uses: Firewood, tool handles, furniture, barrels
Oregon ash is one of the most popular ash trees in California. It is a single-stemmed tree that can grow between 11 and 24 meters (35 and 80 feet) tall and 30 to 60 centimeters (1-2 feet) wide.
The pinnately complex leaves are between 12.5 and 35 centimeters (five and fourteen inches) in length and are deciduous in appearance.
The leaflets range from elliptic to egg-shaped in shape, and size from 7.5 to 18 centimeters (3 to 7 inches) in length. Light green hairs cover the underside of the leaflets, while the upper side is smooth and hairless.
The stalk of a lateral leaflet can be absent or very short. Each leaflet has a stalk, except the one at the end has a stalk. Single samaras, measuring around 4 cm (1.5 inches) in length, are the fruits that this tree bears.
Twigs are thick, with a rounded cross-section between the nodes and a flat end. Gray, furrowed, and up to 4 cm (1.5 inches) thick, the bark has deep ridges. From British Columbia to central California, the Oregon Ash can be found in broadleaf and riparian woods. It favors low elevations (1,700 m) in California, hence you’ll find it near water (streams, springs, wet meadows) (5,500 feet).
It is often used for firewood, tool handles, furniture, and barrels, and it can take stains about as well as other woods. Oregon’s indigenous peoples held that deadly snakes avoided areas with Oregon Ash trees. Characteristics of F. velutina and F. latifolia are similar south of the Kings River, where their ranges meet.
2. Velvet Ash
- Common Name: Velvet Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus velutina
- Mature Height: 15-30ft
- Uses: Shade tree
Small to medium in size, the Velvet Ash is a single-stemmed tree that can reach a height of 9 meters (about 30 feet) with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) (12 inches).
Leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, and measure 10-15 cm in length and 3–5 cm in width; the tree has a rounded crown and spreading branches.
The leaflets range in shape from elliptic to egg-shaped, measuring 2.5–4 cm in length with whole to scalloped margins and sharp points. The leaflets’ upper sides are bright green and smooth, while the undersides are a paler shade of green and thickly hairy.
Longer stalks characterize the terminal leaflets in comparison to their lateral counterparts. The tree’s twigs are thin and circular in cross-section but flat at the nodes, and its fruits are single samaras.
The bark is papery and drab in color, with deep furrows divided by smooth ridges. The Velvet Ash is native to the riparian forests of the Southwestern United States and southern Mexico.
It grows in California’s desert canyons and woods, typically near running water. Plants can be found at altitudes ranging from 200 to 1,500 meters (5000ft). This tree is often planted to provide shade in Arizona, Southern California, and Mexico.
3. Singleleaf Ash
- Common Name: Singleleaf Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus anomala
- Mature Height: 6-20ft
- Uses: Wildlife cover
A species of shrub or small tree, the Singleleaf Ash can reach heights of 2 to 6 meters and a diameter of 5 to 10 centimeters. It has a spherical crown and opposing, deciduous leaves that range in length from 2.5 to 5 centimeters.
Some of its leaves have up to three leaflets, while the majority are simple. The leaflets have broad tapering ends and tapered bases, and their edges might be serrated, scalloped, or almost entirely. The leaflets have hairless upper surfaces that are a dark green color, and hairless lower surfaces that are a light green color.
The twigs of the Singleleaf Ash are hairy and glandular, with a 4-angled cross-section. t has grey bark and only one 2-centimeter-long samara as its fruit.
The Singleleaf Ash can be found in riparian areas of the American Southwest as well as the northern and eastern desert regions of California. It often grows next to streams in canyons and gulches between 1,000 and 2,400 meters above sea level.
4. Foothill Ash
- Common Name: Foothill Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus dipetala
- Mature Height: 6.5-18ft
- Flowers: White clusters
- Uses: Ornamental
Even though foothill ash is the least common ash trees in California, they have one of the showiest flowers.
With a diameter of 10 to 20 cm, this tree may reach heights of 2 to 5.5 meters. The highest Foothill Ash, however, was only ever located in Lake County and was 10.4 meters tall with a 28-centimeter circumference.
The deciduous pinnate leaves of the Foothill Ash have three to seven egg-shaped to spherical leaflets that are 1.2-4 cm long. These leaflets have a dark green top and a light green bottom, and they might have serrated or entire edges. The Foothill Ash also produces large, opulent clusters of white petals that can range in length from 3 to 12 cm. The Foothill Ash has twigs with a 4-angled cross-section and grey bark, and its fruit is a solitary, 2.5-centimeter-long samara.
The Foothill Ash is often seen in chaparrals and forests in Baja California, as well as in central and southwestern California. It is capable of reaching heights of 90 to 1,200 meters above sea level. From March to June, the Foothill Ash has pretty, colorful flowers that add to its appeal.
Native Ash Trees In California – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most common questions people who live in the state have about native ash trees in California.
Do ash trees grow in California?
Ash trees can grow in California. The Oregon ash, the violet ash (Fraxinus dipetala), and the single-leaf ash are all native to California regions.
Unfortunately, ash trees in California, like those in other areas of North America, are vulnerable to infestation by the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that has caused severe damage to ash trees in many parts of the country.
What is killing ash trees in the US?
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that is killing ash trees all over the United States. The EAB larvae eat the inner bark of ash trees, which stops water and nutrients from getting to the tree’s roots. After a few years, the tree dies.
The EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has spread to 35 U.S. states and many Canadian provinces, doing a lot of damage to the environment and economy of North America.
The importance of early discovery and treatment in managing this invasive pest and protecting ash trees cannot be overstated. Canopy dieback, bark cracking, and D-shaped exit holes in the bark are all signs of EAB infestation. If you have ash trees on your property, keep an eye out for these warning signals and take action as soon as possible.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- California Forests, University Of California
- California Native Plant Society
- Native Plants, California Department Of Fish & Wildlife
- California Natural Diversity Database
