Plant of the Day – Fraxinus greggii

The fine, pinnate foliage of littleleaf ash gives a soft texture.

Fraxinus greggii is a drought-tolerant native ash from the southwestern United States into Mexico growing at high elevations.  Pinnate leaves bearing tiny leaflets are mostly evergreen in warm spots, often not falling until just before new leaves emerge.  We’ve been very happy with our plant’s growth in the Scree Garden where it has formed a multi-stemmed shrub.  It can also be pruned to a small tree to expose the smooth grey bark of the trunk.  Flowers are not very showy, but the texture and form of this unusual ash make it well worth a spot in the garden.  Full sun, well-drained soils.

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This small ash makes a handsome shrub in our well-drained Scree Garden.

See what else is going on at http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum