Sugar Hackberry
Celtis laevigata · Deciduous hardwood broadleaf
Plant Family
Cannabaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree and Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species type with characteristic smooth, warty-patched bark.
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, demonstrating wide climatic adaptability.
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree featuring a rounded to spreading crown with somewhat pendulous branchlets. It has a moderate to fast growth rate and is well-known for its distinctive light gray bark that becomes covered in corky warts or ridges.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple leaves measuring 2 to 5 inches long, narrowly lanceolate to ovate with long-tapering tips, asymmetrical leaf bases, and entire or sparsely toothed margins. Bright green in summer turning yellowish in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth, light gray to silvery-gray bark on younger trunks and branches, prominently featuring corky warts, ridges, and patches. Becomes rougher, ridged, and furrowed on very old main trunks.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the southeastern and south-central United States, extending from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.
Growing Season
Spring leafing, inconspicuous green flowers appearing in spring with the leaves, followed by small drupes ripening in autumn before dropping leaves in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun to partial shade. Highly adaptable to various moisture levels, exhibiting good drought tolerance once established while also tolerating occasional flooding.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 40 to 80 feet with a comparable spread. Moderate to fast growth rate with a lifespan of 100 to 150 years.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to urban pollution, poor soils, wind, and temporary flooding. Known for its distinctively warty bark and persistent small fruits.
Wildlife & Ecology
The small drupes are consumed by numerous species of birds and small mammals. The foliage serves as a vital larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Hackberry Emperor.