Virginia Tech Dendrology

hopbush Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. symbol: DOVI
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, spatulate, obovoate, or lanceolate in shape with a tapered base, 1 to 4 inches long, 3/4 inch wide, entire or somewhat revolute, dark glossy green with a sticky resinous coating on both surfaces.
Flower: Species is dioecious; small and not showy, yellow-green, lacking petals, 1/4 inch, blooming spring and fall.
Fruit: Green then showy pink-red, aging to tan, initially quite fleshy and becoming papery, generally spherical with 3 or 4 distinctive wings, 1/2 inch long.
Twig: Slender, gray-brown, angled, covered in thin pubescence, buds are conical, 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
Bark: Coarsely ridged and furrowed, gray-brown, becoming darker and coarsely scaly with age.
Form: A twisted shrub or small tree to 15 feet, with equal spread.
Looks like: four-wing saltbush

Additional Range Information: Dodonaea viscosa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information