Ptelea trifoliata: Country Or Region Of Origin
South East Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
Plant Profile: Ptelea trifoliata
Taxonomy: Ptelea trifoliataNames
Hoptree, Hop-tree, Wafer-ash
Phonetic Spelling:TEE-lee-ah try-foh-lee-AY-tuh
Genus:Ptelea
Species:trifoliata
Family:Rutaceae
Hoptree is a modest deciduous tree indigenous to North Carolina, thriving in regions characterized by calcareous soils. It typically grows in environments such as rocky bluffs, open woodlands, and riverbanks within the Coastal Plain.
This plant is highly adaptable and exhibits a bushy, rounded shape with low-hanging branches. It has a tendency to produce suckers and showcases yellow-green foliage in the fall. Hoptree is known for its ability to form colonies and has a growth rate that ranges from slow to moderate.
Ptelea trifoliata Feature Summary
Ptelea trifoliata Image Gallery
Tags
#fragrant
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#small tree
#full sun tolerant
#fragrant flowers
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#partial sun
#showy
#native tree
#green flowers
#yellow flowers
#deciduous shrub
#piedmont
#native shrub
#woody
#spring flowers
#interesting fruit
#flowering tree
#showy fruits
#moist soil
#food source
#NC native
#well-drained soil
#large shrub
#summer flowers
#woody shrub
#flowering shrub
#small and large mammals
#native garden
#mountains
#coastal plants
#colonies
#green fruits
#summer interest
#rock gardens
#spring interest
#late spring flowers
#fruits summer
#food source summer
#deciduous tree
#early summer flowers
#layering
#food source herbage
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#sandy soils tolerant
#rocky soils tolerant
#fruits
#native
#bird friendly
#dry soils tolerant
#food source hard mast fruit
#Coastal FACU
#food source mid-summer
#partial shade tolerant
#sandy soil
#flowering
#flowers
#audubon
Similar Plants
Ptelea trifoliata Feature Summary
Attributes
South East Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
Birds and small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source.
Woody
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
Attractive Flowers
Fruit
Interesting fruits. In North Carolina, the green/tan fruits are available from June to August.
Green
Cream/Tan
Summer
Flowers
Small, greenish-white to greenish-yellow fragrant flowers; compressed, winged, brown structure that persists. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from April to June.
White
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Green
Fragrant
Spring
Summer
Leaves
2.5 to 5 in. alternate trifoliate leaf; yellow green fall color
Deciduous
Green
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
3-6 inches
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Native Plant
Deciduous
Rounded
Slow
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Native Garden
Flowering Tree
Small Tree
Drought
Heat
Dry Soil
Naturalized Area
Coastal
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Ptelea trifoliata Image Gallery
Ptelea trifoliata Attributes
Ptelea trifoliata: Wildlife Value
Birds and small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source.
Ptelea trifoliata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ptelea trifoliata: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Ptelea trifoliata: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Ptelea trifoliata Fruit
Ptelea trifoliata: Fruit Description
Interesting fruits. In North Carolina, the green/tan fruits are available from June to August.
Ptelea trifoliata: Fruit Color
Cream/Tan
Green
Ptelea trifoliata: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ptelea trifoliata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Ptelea trifoliata Flowers
Ptelea trifoliata: Flower Description
Small, greenish-white to greenish-yellow fragrant flowers; compressed, winged, brown structure that persists. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from April to June.
Ptelea trifoliata: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Green
White
Ptelea trifoliata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ptelea trifoliata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ptelea trifoliata Leaves
Ptelea trifoliata: Leaf Description
2.5 to 5 in. alternate trifoliate leaf; yellow green fall color
Ptelea trifoliata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ptelea trifoliata: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Ptelea trifoliata: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Ptelea trifoliata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ptelea trifoliata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ptelea trifoliata Stem
Ptelea trifoliata: Stem Description
Stems are pungent
Ptelea trifoliata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ptelea trifoliata: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Ptelea trifoliata Whole Plant Traits
Ptelea trifoliata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Ptelea trifoliata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ptelea trifoliata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Ptelea trifoliata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ptelea trifoliata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ptelea trifoliata Cultural Conditions
Ptelea trifoliata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Ptelea trifoliata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ptelea trifoliata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ptelea trifoliata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Ptelea trifoliata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ptelea trifoliata Landscape
Ptelea trifoliata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Ptelea trifoliata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Ptelea trifoliata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Ptelea trifoliata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Ptelea trifoliata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
