American Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Cannabaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 9. Excellent cold hardiness and heat tolerance.
About This Tree
A medium to large hardy tree with a characteristic rounded to spreading crown and distinctively arching branches. Known for its tough nature and ability to withstand urban conditions, wind, and varying soil types. At maturity, it develops a deep, dense canopy.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate arrangement. Leaves are ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 5 inches long, with an asymmetrical base (lopsided). They have serrated margins and a rough, sandpaper-like texture on the upper surface. Pale green in spring, turning a dull yellow in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Highly distinctive 'corky' or 'warty' bark. Gray to light brown in color, developing prominent raised ridges and projecting lumps that look like topographical maps as the tree matures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Central and Eastern North America, spanning from Southern Canada to the Southern United States.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (April/May), flowers are inconspicuous and appear with leaves; fruits ripen in September to October and often persist through winter. Enters dormancy in late fall.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but is moderately shade-tolerant. High drought tolerance once established; prefers moist, well-drained soils but adapts to dry, sandy, or rocky soils and occasional flooding.
Mature Size
Reaches 40 to 60 feet in height with a similar spread. Growth rate is moderate. Can live for 150 to 200 years. Trunk diameter typically 1 to 3 feet.
Special Characteristics
Extremely tolerant of urban pollution and wind. Notable for its 'warty' bark which provides winter interest. Vulnerable to 'Witch's Broom' (a deformity caused by mites/fungi) which is often used as a diagnostic feature for the species.
Wildlife & Ecology
Highly valuable ecological tree. Produces small, dark-purple fleshy drupes (hackberries) that are a critical winter food source for many birds (cedar waxwings, robins) and small mammals. It is the larval host for several butterflies, including the Hackberry Emperor and Tawny Emperor.