Sun or partial shade. Mexican ash is weak-wooded, shallow-rooted, and not especially long lived. Despite these problems, it’s fast-growing, makes a nice shade, and can be useful in the right setting. It prefers deeper soils and riparian environments, so avoid thin rocky soils (and don’t plant too close to the house.) Mexican ash is often sold as “Arizona Ash” but in fact, the two species are different.
Structural integrity may require a good arborist; otherwise, this ash generally begins to lose the first big branches after twenty years, and quickly declines. With the emerald ash borer (EAB) working its way steadily toward south-central Texas (it had reached Bell County by 2026) all ash trees are at risk of declining rapidly in the near future. Emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees across the U.S. and all 16 native ash species are threatened.Â
Can be used as a shade tree as long as soils are deep enough, but like Arizona Ash it lives fast and dies young.
