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Dodonaea triquetra

common hop bush

Sapindaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Dodonaea triquetra is an erect evergreen shrub reaching 1-3 m (3-10 ft) tall, with angular green branchlets and a spreading, open habit. The bright green leaves are simple, lance-shaped to elliptic, 5-12 cm (2-4.7 in) long, with a prominent midrib and a slightly sticky surface. It is mostly dioecious, the small petal-less flowers greenish to yellow and easily overlooked, borne in short clusters in the leaf axils. Female plants develop three-winged papery seed capsules about 1.5-2 cm (0.6-0.8 in) wide that age from green through pink to reddish-brown and resemble the fruit of hops, giving the plant its common name. These capsules are the most visible feature and persist for some weeks. It grows in the understorey of open forest and woodland and on rainforest margins along the east coast, often on sandstone soils. Tolerant of dry shade and poor soils, it is fast-growing but relatively short-lived and can look sparse in deep shade. It regenerates from seed after fire.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria, in the understorey of dry and moist open forest, woodland, and rainforest edges, often on sandy or sandstone-derived soils.

Suggested Uses

Used as a fast filler and understorey shrub in native and bush-regeneration plantings, light screening, and informal borders on poor or sandy soils. Its winged capsules add seasonal colour in low-water gardens.

How to Identify

Recognised by angular green stems, sticky lance-shaped bright-green leaves, and three-winged papery capsules that turn pink to reddish-brown and hang in clusters. The flowers are greenish and petal-less. The hop-like winged fruit is the clearest identifying feature.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread3' - 6'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

The small greenish to yellow flowers appear mainly in spring, are petal-less and easily missed. The more visible display comes from the three-winged capsules that follow on female plants, colouring through pink and red over late spring and summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Greenish to yellow

Foliage Description

Bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 3-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to fairly deep shade on most well-drained soils, including sandy and rocky ground, and tolerates dry conditions once established. It needs little watering beyond establishment and no feeding on average soils. It withstands light frost and coastal exposure but can be damaged by hard frost when young. Its fast, open growth benefits from occasional trimming to stay compact. It is short-lived compared with many shrubs and may need replacing after several years.

Pruning

Responds to regular tip-pruning, which keeps the open habit denser. Cutting back lightly after the capsules fade maintains shape. It reshoots reasonably well from semi-hard wood but is slow from old bare stems.