Description

Leaves: Opposite; simple and 1" to 2" long, or sometimes once pinnately compound with 2-5 smaller leaflets; deciduous; leaves or leaflets ovate or nearly round; glabrous above and dark green, pale below; margin entire or with very fine teeth.

Twigs/buds: Twigs fairly stout; somewhat 4-winged or ridged and orange when young; round and gray when older.  Terminal bud broad-ovoid; 1/8" to 1/4" long; orange-hairy.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect or dioecious; small and inconspicuous; in small, conical bunches; appear as the leaves emerge.  Fruit a samara; 1/2" long, 1/8" to 1/4" wide; paddle-shaped in small clusters; often clinging to twigs into or throughout the winter; tip of wing rounded or notched.

Bark: Brown to red-brown; thin; with scaly ridges.

Wood: Unimportant; sapwood light colored and thick; heartwood light brown; growth rings distinct; ring- porous; heavy; hard.

General: A large shrub to small tree native to the canyons of southern Utah and scattered throughout the southwestern U.S., where it is generally found along streams or locations where moisture collects.  I have seen it growing out of soil-collecting depressions on red sandstone slopes near St. George. Tolerant of drought, heat, and high soil pH.  Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Showing up in some xeriscapes recently in Utah, at least as far north as Salt Lake City.  It definitely has application in warmer parts of Utah where native plants and low water use are important. I have seen it carried in one nursery catalogue out of Oregon.  Zones 6-9(10?).

In the last few years an exotic pest, emerald ash borer (EAB), has been making its way across the U.S. So far it has decimated populations of ornamental and native ashes and recently was found to attack fringetree (Chionanthus spp.) as well. So far EAB has not made it to Utah, but it seems likely that it will. So, plant ashes and fringetrees with caution since they may not be around for long. Some have hope that trunk injection of insecticides may work to control the pest.

Characteristics