Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Cannabaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree and Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Common Hackberry species type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, highly adaptable to various climatic extremes
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with an upright, spreading, or rounded crown and often somewhat pendulous outer branchlets. It features a moderately dense canopy, moderate to fast growth rate, and a distinctively textured, warted bark.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves, ovate to lanceolate in shape, typically 2 to 5 inches long, uneven asymmetrical bases, sharply serrated margins, tapering to a pointed tip, bright green in summer turning pale yellow in autumn
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to brown bark characterized by prominent, corky warts, ridges, and ridges that become deeply furrowed and rough as the tree ages
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, widely distributed across the central and eastern United States and parts of southern Canada
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring, produces small inconspicuous green flowers in spring alongside new leaves, bears small drupes that ripen in autumn, enters dormancy in late fall
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but exhibits high drought tolerance once established
Mature Size
Expected mature height of 40 to 60 feet with a similar or wider spread, moderate to fast growth rate, and a lifespan often exceeding 150 years
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to urban pollution, wind, drought, and poor soils; distinct corky bark offers high winter interest
Wildlife & Ecology
Supports a wide variety of wildlife including birds and small mammals that consume the small dark berries; serves as a larval host plant for several butterfly species including the Hackberry Emperor