Virginia Tech Dendrology

Arizona ash Oleaceae Fraxinus velutina Torr. symbol: FRVE2
Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound, 5 to 9 inches long, typically 5 leaflets (occasionally more or less), leaflets are elliptical to ovate, margins entire (maybe wavy toothed), shiny green above and paler and pubescent below (maybe smooth).
Flower: Species is dioecious; small and inconspicuous male flowers are a pale yellowish-green, females light green, both are borne in dense clusters before the leaves appear.
Fruit: Single wing, straight samara, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, plump seed, large hanging clusters mature in late summer.
Twig: Stout, hairy when young, gray to brown with age, leaf scars fairly large.
Bark: Smooth and gray when young, develops shallow fissures and scaly ridges in an irregular diamond pattern, gray-brown.
Form: Reaches heights up to 35 feet, with a round crown.
Looks like: Oregon ash - two-petal ash - Gooding ash - singleleaf ash

Additional Range Information: Fraxinus velutina is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information