Wafer Ash
Ptelea trifoliata
A small tree with honey-scented late spring flowers and winged seeds like natural wind chimes. Host for giant swallowtail caterpillars.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
A small tree that hosts giant swallowtails, smells like honey in late spring, and stays under 20 feet. the understory triple threat.
Wafer ash, also called hop tree, is a small native tree that carries a lot of ecological significance in a modest footprint. Clusters of small, greenish-white flowers in late spring have a honey-like fragrance that's subtle but lovely up close. The flat, winged seeds that follow are distinctive and attractive, clustering in summer like natural wind chimes. Giant swallowtail butterfly larvae feed on the leaves. These are the caterpillars that look exactly like bird droppings, one of evolution's clever disguises. At 10 to 20 feet, this tree fits under power lines and in smaller yards. It tolerates shade and some drought, making it versatile in the understory layer where small to medium native trees are often needed. An underappreciated native that quietly earns its space.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown wafer ash propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 10–20 ft · 10–15 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Late spring
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Native range
- Eastern and Central North America
Care notes for wafer ash.
Part shade to full sun, moist to average well-drained soil. Tolerates clay, occasional drought once established. Minimal pruning needed. No fertilizing required. Slow to establish but long-lived. Excellent understory or small specimen tree.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside wafer ash.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.