Pollinator plant

Hop tree

Ptelea trifoliata

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Common names

31 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (17)
Dutch
  • Hopboom[2][3]
  • Lederboom
  • Lederstruik
French
  • Orme de Samarie[2][3]
  • Ptelea à trois folioles
  • Ptélée à trois feuilles[2][3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • křídlatec trojlistý[3]
Estonian
  • harilik humalapuu[3]
  • kolmiklehine humalapuu[3]
Finnish
  • humalalaikkio[3]
German
Hungarian
  • hármaslevelű alásfa[3]
Japanese
  • ホップノキ[3]
Lithuanian
  • Trilapė ptelija[3]
Polish
  • Parczelina trójlistkowa[3]
Russian
  • Птелея трёхлистная[3]
Slovak
  • krídlatec trojlístkový[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • klöveralm[3]
Ukrainian
  • В'язовик[3]
  • Птелея трилиста[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • hop tree — Page 4, column 2, row top 517 pt; common-name cell after Ptelea trifoliata.; Ptelea trifoliata.
[2] Ptelea trifoliata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Hopboom — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • common hoptree — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Kleeulme — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • American Hop Tree — results[0].names[6]; 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.
  • Palo zorrillo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Orme de Samarie — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Ptélée à trois feuilles — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
[3] Ptelea trifoliata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Hopboom — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • common hoptree — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Kleeulme — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • American Hop Tree — results[0].names[6]; 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.
  • Palo zorrillo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Orme de Samarie — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Ptélée à trois feuilles — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • křídlatec trojlistý — results[0].names[7]; 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.
  • 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.
  • humalalaikkio — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • krídlatec trojlístkový — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 50625; Ptelea trifoliata.
[4] Ptelea trifoliata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Hop-tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Hoptree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Stinking Ash — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ptelea trifoliata.
  • Wafer-ash — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Ptelea trifoliata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Ptelea trifoliata is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rutaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
4.57–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.05–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
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)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Ptelea trifoliata in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
SE. Canada to Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree, Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
6.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Growth rate
Slow
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit
Functions
Hedge, Timber, Fragrant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ptelea trifoliata — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1077032; ID 4PSYD; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1077032; ID 4PSYD; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Ptelea trifoliata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 2, entry Ptelea trifoliata (top 517 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Ptelea trifoliata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 286254; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1037668, 1037670, 1037671, 1037672, 1037673, 1037674, 1037675, 1037676, 1037677, 1037678, 1037679, 1037680, 1037681, 1037682, 1037683, 1037684, 1037685, 1037686, 1037687, 1037688, 1037689, 1037690, 1037691, 1037692, 1037693, 1037694, 1037695, 1037696, 1037697, 1037698, 1037699, 1037700, 1037701, 1037702, 1037703, 1037704, 1037705, 1037706, 1037707, 1037708, 1037709, 1037710, 1037711, 1037712, 1037713, 1037714

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.