Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Photo by Martha Moss
Summary
The humble hackberry, a member of the elm family, doesn’t always get the respect it deserves! Granted, its irregular growth habit and foliage are sometimes unimpressive, with the leaves prone to cosmetic issues such as leaf spots and galls. This has led to hackberry’s reputation as an undesirable ‘weed tree’’. However, there’s plenty to love about hackberry. Like many native trees, it adapts to a wide variety of soils, and can happily grow in the most adverse conditions.
If you’re looking for a tough shade tree that’s a relatively fast-growing, easy-going multi-tasker– look no further than hackberry!
More Details
FAMILY
Ulmaceae (Elm)
BLOOM TIME
April-May
FLOWER
Yellow-green, appearing with leaves
MATURE SIZE
20-30 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Sun, part shade, shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Dry, moist, pH adaptable
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
Hackberries are among the best food and shelter plants for wildlife. Te fruits produced in September or October are relished by many birds, including woodpeckers and cedar waxwings. Hackberry is a host plant for mourning cloak, question mark and American snout butterflies.