Description

The California ash grows in mountainous regions throughout the state. In the San Francisco Bay Area it is a rare find on Mt. Diablo, in Henry Coe State Park and Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve. The form is an open, vase-shaped small tree or large shrub, with oval leaflets on compound leaves overlaying silver-gray bark. Careful pruning can expose the attractive bark as the tree matures. By far its most conspicuous period comes when it erupts with fragrant white flowers in the spring. California ash accepts a variety of growing conditions, but may do best with occasional summer water.