Hop tree has large leaves consisting of several individual leaflets that resemble those of the ash tree.
Hop trees fragrant, greenish-white flowers are rather inconspicuous, appearing in early summer, and they attract pollinators.
The soil should be well-drained and in the neutralpH range.
Hop tree can also be planted as part of natural hedgerow or shelterbelt.
It pairs well with showy companions, particularly those with darker foliage, such as purpleleaf sandcherry and chokecherry.
Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide and 6 inches deeper than the trees root ball.
Position the tree in the planting hole so the top of the rootball is level with the soil.
Backfill with the original soil and tamp it down.
It is scattered over a large geographic range, growing as far north as zone 3.
Pruning
Dead or broken branches can be removed any time.
Pruning to improve the shape of the tree should be done when the plant is dormant.
Pests and Problems
Hop tree has no serious pest or disease issues.
Occasionally it will get tree hoppers whose feeding leads to discolored foliage and defoliation.
Other potential diseases are leaf spot and rust.
In midsummer to fall, takesoftwood or semi-hardwood cuttings, about 6 inches long.
Remove all the lower leaves and dip the cut ends in rooting hormone powder.
Fill a 1-quart pot with well-draining, damp potting soil.
It grows 15 feet in height and spreads 10 to 15 feet.
As the bark of the older stems ages, it peels back in layers, creating an exfoliation effect.
Another plus: Ninebark is deer-resistant.
In early summer, it bears fluffy clusters of pink flowers in early summer.
Smokebush thrives in a wide range of soil types and it is also deer-resistant.
Hop tree is a food source for the caterpillars of the giant swallowtail butterfly.
It also provides food for birds and mammals and nectar for butterflies and bees.
