Ptelea trifoliata var. mollis

Torr. & A. Gray

Hop tree, Water-ash, Skunkbush

Rutaceae Edible: Fruit 16,336 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ptelea trifoliata, commonly known as common hoptree, wafer ash, stinking ash, and skunk bush, is a species of flowering plant in the citrus family (Rutaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It is a deciduous shrub or tree, with alternate, trifoliate leaves.

Description

A small tree that loses its leaves. It grows 6 m tall. The fruit are 2.5 cm long.

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Edible Uses

The fruit is edible.

Medicinal Uses

It has several Native American uses as a seasoning and as an herbal medicine for different ailments. Numerous cultivars have been developed for ornamental use in parks and gardens. The cultivar 'Aurea' with golden leaves has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. German immigrants to Texas in the 19th century used its seeds in place of hops in the beer-making process, lending the species its common name.