Ptelea trifoliata, Hop Tree, Gallon Pot

Ptelea trifoliata, Hop Tree

FS-PS, Zone 3, Blooms early summer, 6-20’ tall x 15’, prefers moisture likes wet

This small tree is in the rue family along with citrus trees and Prickly Ash. The leaves give off a citrus smell when crushed and the fruits produced are used by brewers as a hops substitute. The multi-stemmed tree grows slowly at first and can be adapted to a very large container. It tolerates most soil and light conditions and is drought tolerant once established.. It thrives in open woodlands, prairies, and thickets and makes a good understory tree.

The Hop Tree is a native host plant for the Giant Swallowtail butterfly. During the 2021 season we collected 27 giant swallowtail larvae from two of our small trees. They all became chrysalis’s, which overwintered and emerged in the spring. Giant Swallowtails also use the rue plant as a host, which is also available here in our webstore.