Fraxinus dipetala
California ash
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Family: Oleaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Fraxinus dipetala (California ash) is a native California shrub / tree in the Oleaceae family, recognized by . Two-petaled flowers are diagnostic among California ashes.
California ash is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, central and southern Sierra Nevada, central Western, Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in canyons, slopes, chaparral, and oak/pine woodland at elevations of 100 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces cream-white flowers in small clusters with two distinctive petals. Growing 1.5 to 3 meters tall with smooth gray bark and cylindric to four-angled twigs, it forms a dense shrubby structure. Its compound leaves feature 5 to 7 leaflets, each 2 to 4.5 centimeters long, dark green on top and pale underneath, with serrated edges. The fruit is a distinctive flat, broadly winged structure 20 to 32 millimeters long, resembling a slender paddle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species. Two-petaled flowers are diagnostic among California ashes.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, slopes, chaparral, oak/pine woodland
Elevation: 100-1300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Lake, Fresno, Riverside, Tehama, Butte, Lassen, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Merced, Stanislaus, San Bernardino, Mariposa, Madera, Contra Costa, Kern, Monterey, San Benito, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mendocino, Nevada, Solano, Sonoma, Napa, Shasta, Siskiyou, Yolo, San Diego
Bloom period
Fraxinus dipetala blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Sambucus: Fraxinus has winged paddle fruits; Sambucus has clusters of small round berries.; vs Acer: Fraxinus fruits have one wing each; Acer fruits have paired wings joined at base.; vs Quercus: Fraxinus has opposite compound leaves; Quercus has alternate simple leaves and acorns.; vs Juglans: Fraxinus fruits are flat winged paddles; Juglans fruits are round walnuts in green husks.; vs Ailanthus: Fraxinus has opposite leaves with toothed leaflets; Ailanthus has alternate leaves with smooth-edged leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fraxinus dipetala native to California?
Yes. Fraxinus dipetala is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fraxinus dipetala bloom?
Fraxinus dipetala blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Fraxinus dipetala grow?
Fraxinus dipetala occurs in Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Lake, Fresno, Riverside, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 100-1300 m.
What plant family does Fraxinus dipetala belong to?
Fraxinus dipetala is in the Oleaceae family, genus Fraxinus.
What habitat does Fraxinus dipetala grow in?
Fraxinus dipetala grows in Canyons, slopes, chaparral, oak/pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.