Fraxinus velutina
Velvet ash, Velvet Ash
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Oleaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Fraxinus velutina (Velvet ash) is a native California tree in the Oleaceae family, recognized by . Velvety pubescence and tree habit in desert regions diagnostic.
Velvet ash is a California native tree found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, southern eastern Sierra Nevada, and eastern Mojave Desert in canyon and streambank woodland habitats at elevations of 200 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to April, this tree produces inconspicuous green flowers without petals. Growing with a trunk up to 15 meters tall and 3 decimeters in diameter, it has gray, furrowed bark and cylindric gray-brown twigs covered in minute velvety hairs. Its compound leaves are 9 to 20 centimeters long with 5 to 7 lanceolate leaflets, each 3 to 10 centimeters long, ranging from entire to slightly serrated with a distinctive velvety texture. The fruit is a distinctive winged samara 15 to 38 millimeters long with a flat wing extending onto the fruit body.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species. Velvety pubescence and tree habit in desert regions diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, streambanks, woodland
Elevation: 200-1600 m
California counties: Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Orange, San Diego, Fresno, Tulare, Imperial, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Contra Costa, San Luis Obispo, Trinity, Sacramento, Mariposa, Solano
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Fraxinus velutina blooms Mar-Apr.
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 velutina native to California?
Yes. Fraxinus velutina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fraxinus velutina bloom?
Fraxinus velutina blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Fraxinus velutina grow?
Fraxinus velutina occurs in Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Orange, San Diego, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 200-1600 m.
What plant family does Fraxinus velutina belong to?
Fraxinus velutina is in the Oleaceae family, genus Fraxinus.
What habitat does Fraxinus velutina grow in?
Fraxinus velutina grows in Canyons, streambanks, 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.