Natural History

The Hop Bush is a member of the soapberry family. It is an evergreen shrub which typically grows to 5 - 7 feet in height. It prefers dry, acidic soils and grows at elevations from 2000 to 5000 feet. The leaves are narrow and typically 4" in length.
 

The plant is able to bloom much of the year and produce inconspicuous clusters of small, greenish flowers, which are followed by winged fruits which resemble hops. The leaves are toxic and not browsed by herbivores. The Hop Bush is drought tolerant and easy to grow; it is often used as a landscape plant.