Botanical Name: Celtis occidentalis
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Common Name: Common Hackberry  
Plant photo of: Celtis occidentalis
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree

 

Height Range

40-60'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown

 

Fruit Color

Brown, Purple

 

Fruit Season

Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Moist, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Meadow, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Lawn, Park, Street Tree

 

Special Uses

Shade Tree

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: JJ Neilson Arboretum
  • Description

  • Notes

Common Hackberry is a deciduous tree with upright and arching branches and elm-like foliage. It has thick, knobby bark. It creates a broad canopy which offers moderate shade in spring and summer. The leaves are bright green, oval, and 2 to 5 inches long with finely toothed edges; yellow fall color. Small, round seed brown to purple in color; matures in September to October and relished by birds. Tolerates urban air pollution. Grows 40 to 50 feet tall and as wide.
Prefers rich, moist soils, but grows in dry, heavy, sandy, or rocky soils. Withstands alkaline soils and windy sites. For smaller sites or spaces, consider planting Celtis reticulata, Netleaf Hackberry. A Utah native, this tough tree grows between 20 and 30 feet tall 15 to 20 feet wide.