Texas Ash
Fraxinus albicans
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
iNaturalist: © bob777 (iNaturalist #6595786)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Genus:
- Fraxinus
- Species:
- Fraxinus albicans
- USDA Symbol:
- FRAL3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Adita chionanthi, Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Bethune's Pinion (Lithophane bethunei), Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), Caloptilia fraxinella, ⚠️Canadian sphinx (Sphinx canadensis), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Copivaleria grotei, Dark-spotted Palthis (Palthis angulalis), Distinct Lichen Moth (Achatia distincta), Effecta Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena effecta), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Franck's sphinx moth (Sphinx franckii), Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Io moth (Automeris io), Johnson's euchlaena moth (Euchlaena johnsonaria), lilac sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Manduca brontes, Maple spanworm (Ennomos magnaria), Marmara fraxinicola, Melanchra assimilis, Norman's Quaker (Crocigrapha normani), Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), Ochre Euchlaena (Euchlaena marginaria), Orizaba silkmoth (Rothschildia orizaba), Orthosia revicta, Papaipema furcata, Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), reticulated sparganothis moth (Sparganothis reticulatana), Splendid Palpita Moth (Palpita magniferalis), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), tawny brown carpet moth (Anacamptodes ephyraria), Twin-spotted sphinx (Smerinthus jamaicensis), Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Winter moth (Operophtera brumata), woodland leafroller (Pandemis lamprosana), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), hickory hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Amazilia yucatanensis
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, calcareous, rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found on limestone hills
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification. Fresh seed germinates more readily than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI