Common name: Hop Tree
Scientific name: Ptelea trifoliata
Category: Native Shrub, Threatened
Sample mature size: 5 m tall, 4 m wide; 16.5 ft tall, 13.5 ft wide
Sunlight: Full-sun
Water: Medium-dry, Dry
Soil: Silt, Sand
Blooms: Yellow in May
Natural habitats: Riverbanks-beaches, Woodland-shaded, Carolinian-forest
Wildlife benefits: Host plant π, Bees/wasps π, Butterflies/skippers π¦
Points of interest: - Host larval to the rare Giant Swallowtail
- Threatened due to natural habitat loss from urban development of the shoreline
- Another significant devastation from the Twig Boring beetle
- Grows along the shorelines and dunes of Lake Erie, occuring often in thickets or open woods
- Indigenous Carolinian species, rarely encountered in cultivation
- Typically grows up to 3 meters in height, with a broad stature
- Adorned with delicate umbels of white flowers in May, adding to its allure
- Seeds form clusters, persisting through winter, offering unique landscape interest
- Pruning in its juvenile stage makes it suitable for small gardens
- Thrives in dry, exposed conditions along Lake Erie shoreline
- Demonstrates resilience, deserving wider recognition and utilization in landscaping