Ptelea trifoliata
Common name: Wafer Ash
Pronounced pTE-lea for those of you trying to read this one, that being one of a couple confusing things about it. Wafer Ash tends to be a pioneer species on disturbed ground but also will establish colonies a hundred years old. It may spread or stay put. It might be a tree or a shrub, in both case no larger than 20 feet. It loves the sun but will grow in light shade. What we can say for sure is that it is a member of the citrus family, Rutaceae, its flowers, leaves, and fruit are very aromatic. It is also the preferred host plant for the giant swallow-tail butterfly, sometimes being eaten near to the ground by said caterpillar. For people, particularly the Germans in old’n days, used the seed as a substitute for hops, hence another common name, “Hop Tree”.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Tree
Soil type
Dry, Dry Mesic, Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry)
Light exposure
Full Sun
Bloom period
Spring
Urban environment
Harsh Exposure Tolerant, Road-side/Salt Tolerant
Habitat
Prairie Grasslands, Savannas
Growth form
Shrubby/Clump, Single trunk, Low branched, Colonizing / Spreading
Growth rate
Moderate
Flower color
Green White
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 10 Feet
- Mature width
- 10 Feet
- Max height
- 15 Feet
- Max width
- 15 Feet
Additional information
Butterfly host plant Drought Resistant Pollinator hot spot
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