Fraxinus velutina

Velvet Ash is a small deciduous tree, ranging from Santa Barbara county south to San Diego county. It grows usually less than 30 feet tall and grows very fast. Velvet Ash needs regular water until it is established, then is quite drought tolerant. Velvet Ash is a good shade tree for southern California, and will live in Los Angeles with no care after two years. Velvet Ash likes full sun and can tolerate seasonal flooding. The name comes from the young twigs which, are puberulent and have the appearance and texture of velvet.