Fraxinus uhdei

Fraxinus uhdei sometimes called Shamel Ash is a tree that is not native to California. Fraxinus is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family oleaceae. It contains over 50 species of medium to large trees that are mostly deciduous though a few sub tropical species are evergreen. The tree’s common English name ash goes back to Old English. The generic name originated in Latin. Both words also meant spear in their respective languages. The leaves are opposite and mostly pinnate. The seeds popularly known as keys or helicopter seeds are a type of fruit known as a samara. Fraxinus uhdei grows to 80 feet tall by 60 feet wide. It is an evergreen tree if grown in the low desert and is semi-deciduous in colder climates. It has very attractive foliage. It is considered fast-growing. Some of the seedless varieties stay more evergreen than other ashes. Fraxinus uhdei has exceptionally large glossy leaves. Most make low-maintenance pest-free shade trees that are perfect for yard or street plantings.