About Ptelea crenulata Greene
Ptelea crenulata, commonly called the California hoptree, is a tree species that is endemic to California, United States. It occurs in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range, the northern California Coast Ranges, and the San Francisco Bay Area. This species grows in chaparral and woodland habitats. It is cultivated by specialty California native plant nurseries as an ornamental plant. It is used as a shrub or small tree in water-conserving gardens, natural landscaping, and habitat restoration projects. Seedlings of Ptelea crenulata grow better in dry soil than in standing water, which demonstrates the species' good adaptation to California's warm, dry climate. It typically has smaller leaves than its eastern relatives; this difference is associated with growing in drier environments. Its flowers produce a strong, citrus-like scent, which comes from natural compounds including ethyl benzoate and estragole.
