Plant Details

Ptelea trifoliata

Hop tree

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Ptelea trifoliata.

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Common names

28 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American Hop Tree[1]
  • common hoptree[1]
  • Hop tree
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (17)
Dutch
  • Hopboom[1]
  • Lederboom
  • Lederstruik
French
  • Orme de Samarie[1]
  • Ptelea à trois folioles
  • Ptélée à trois feuilles[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • křídlatec trojlistý[1]
Estonian
  • harilik humalapuu[1]
  • kolmiklehine humalapuu[1]
Finnish
  • humalalaikkio[1]
German
Hungarian
  • hármaslevelű alásfa[1]
Japanese
  • ホップノキ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Trilapė ptelija[1]
Polish
  • Parczelina trójlistkowa[1]
Russian
  • Птелея трёхлистная[1]
Slovak
  • krídlatec trojlístkový[1]
Spanish
  • Palo zorrillo[1]
Swedish
  • klöveralm[1]
Ukrainian
  • В'язовик[1]
  • Птелея трилиста[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ptelea trifoliata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common hoptree — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Palo zorrillo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Wafer Ash — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Wafer-ash — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • American Hop Tree — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • křídlatec trojlistý — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Hopboom — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Птелея трёхлистная — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Trilapė ptelija — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • ホップノキ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • harilik humalapuu — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • kolmiklehine humalapuu — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Kleeulme — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • 榆橘 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • 榆橘 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • klöveralm — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • В'язовик — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Parczelina trójlistkowa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Птелея трилиста — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • hármaslevelű alásfa — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Ptélée à trois feuilles — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Orme de Samarie — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • humalalaikkio — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • krídlatec trojlístkový — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.

General information

Scientific name: Ptelea trifoliata
Accepted name (Kew): Ptelea trifoliata L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rutaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ptelea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Hop tree
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.57–6.1 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 3.05–6.1 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Hedge, Wood, Fragrant

Description

Fruit. Despite its very bitter taste, this fruit is consumed by young children. It is also used as a substitute for hops in brewing beer and added to dough to make bread rise faster. The fruit is produced abundantly in Europe, although the yield is low. The fruit is very thin and about 25 mm long.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 286140; name ID 2543278; Ptelea L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 286254; name ID 2543462; Ptelea trifoliata L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ptelea trifoliata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1077032, ID 4PSYD: Ptelea trifoliata L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Ptelea trifoliata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .