California Hoptree
Ptelea crenulata
Care
full sun, part shade
low
16–16ft tall
Mar-May
Friendly
Oak woodland and chaparral of the Sierra Nevada foothills and inner Coast Ranges from Kern to Tehama County, 1000-4000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your California Hoptree in full sun to part shade - it naturally grows as an understory plant, so it actually prefers partial shade over intense afternoon heat, especially in the Bay Area. Give it well-draining soil and space it where you have room for a tree that will reach up to 16 feet tall. Spring is your best planting window to establish it before summer.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer to help it establish, then transition to the minimal irrigation this drought-adapted tree prefers once it's settled in - typically by year two. California Hoptree is deciduous, so it will drop its leaves in winter; this is normal and not a sign something's wrong. Prune lightly if needed to shape it as a hedge or privacy screen, but this slow-growing tree won't demand much maintenance once established.
Visit Calscape for more information about California Hoptree
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California state threatened species
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Coastal population larval host; emergence Mar-May
Early spring larval host plant; single generation Feb-Apr
Primary larval food plant for caterpillars; multiple generations Apr-Sep
Larval food plant for coastal California populations
Beetle feeding on foliage and tender growth
Beetle herbivory on leaves and stems