common hoptree
ExplorePlants
common hoptree
Ptelea trifoliata
The common hoptree is a small shrub with unique three-leaf clusters. It produces little flowers and is known for its hop-like fruits that are fun to spot in nature!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The common hoptree is a small deciduous tree or large shrub with distinct trifoliate, dark green leaves. Its small, greenish-white flowers produce unique flat, disc-like fruits resembling papery, circular hops. The bark is smooth and brownish-gray.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSapindalesFamilyRutaceaeGenusPtelea
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Crushing a leaf makes a smell like oranges mixed with skunk – quite a surprising scent!
Its unusual flat, round seeds were once called 'wafer ash' because they look like tiny wafers!
Native Americans used its bark and roots for traditional medicines, even to treat fevers!
The 'hops' on this tree are actually fruits, not like the real hops used for beer!
Special abilities
Ability
Aromatic Defense
Common hoptree leaves release a strong, citrusy yet skunky scent when crushed, which helps it deter hungry animals.
Ability
Wind-Riding Seeds
Common hoptree produces lightweight, disc-shaped fruits that spin like propellers, allowing wind to carry its seeds far.
Ability
Drought Endurance
The common hoptree can grow in dry, rocky soils because its roots efficiently find and store water.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-800 cm
- Spread
- 200-500 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes
Larvae feed on hoptree leaves.
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Bees visit hoptree flowers for nectar and pollen.
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on young hoptree foliage.
shelters
White Oak
Quercus alba
Often grows alongside oaks in woodland understories.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch the plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is common hoptree?
300-800 cm
How wide does common hoptree spread?
200-500 cm
How big are the flowers on common hoptree?
0.5-1 cm
When does common hoptree bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is common hoptree edible?
No
Is common hoptree toxic?
Mild
What is common hoptree's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is common hoptree pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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