A large shrub or small tree with a bushy rounded form. Fragrant greenish flowers bloom April-June and provide nectar for pollinators. Flowers are followed by yellow-green, winged fruits that later turn brown and last through winter on female plants. Host plant for larvae of the Eastern Tiger and Giant Swallowtail butterflies, Papilio glaucus and Papilio cresphontes.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Wafer Ash
Ptelea trifoliata
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Forest
Season of Interest: Mid (May - June), Late (July - frost), Winter (Nov - Mar)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color: Green, Yellow
USDA PLANTS Range Map
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Medium Sun/Average Shade, Shade
Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate
Nature Attracting
Butterfly, Pollinators/Beneficial Insects
Wildlife Benefit
Butterfly / Moth Host, Butterfly / Moth Nectar, Food/Pollinators
Animal
Resistance
Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant
Size
Height:
8 to
20
feet
Spread:
8 to
15
feet
Size
Height: 8 to
20
feet
Spread: 8 to
15
feet
Size
Height: 8 to
20
feet
Spread: 8 to
15
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Use in shaded areas, in a mixed shrub border or in a woodland garden.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Very easy to grow in sun or shade as long as the soil is well-drained.
Special Features
Special Usage
Fragrant
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
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What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.