Hop-tree Ptelea trifoliata
- Phonetic Spelling
- TEE-lee-ah try-foh-lee-AY-tuh
- Description
-
Hoptree is a small deciduous tree native to North Carolina. It can be found growing in areas with especially calcareous soils including rocky bluffs, open woodlands, and river bluffs in the Coastal Plain.
Very adaptable plant; slow to medium grower; bushy rounded habit; low branches; tends to sucker; yellow green fall foliage; native; very adaptable plant; forms colonies
Form: Bushy, rounded habit with low branches
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aurea'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Glauca'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Glauca'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ptelea
- Species:
- trifoliata
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Interesting fruits. In North Carolina, the green/tan fruits are available from June to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2.5 to 5 in. alternate trifoliate leaf; yellow green fall color
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are pungent
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
