Celtis tenuifolia
A small native North American deciduous tree or large shrub in the Cannabaceae, it is drought-tolerant, bears orange-pink drupes that wildlife love, and serves as a larval host for several butterflies, while being considered threatened in Canada.
Common Names
Dwarf Hackberry, Georgia Hackberry, Small Hackberry, Micocoulier de Soper, Small Sugar Hackberry, Upland Hackberry
Summary
Dwarf Hackberry, Celtis tenuifolia, is a shrub or small tree in Cannabaceae native to Ontario and widespread across the eastern United States. It typically reaches up to 8 meters tall with a dense, multi‑trunk, irregular crown; bark is light gray, furrowed and warty, and branches are thornless. Leaves are alternate, 2–8 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, ovate to ovate‑elliptic with an unequal base, margins mostly entire with some serration toward the apex; flowers appear in spring (April–May) as solitary flowers or in small clusters, and drupes are orange to brown or cherry red, 5–8 mm in diameter with cream‑colored stones. It grows on slopes and along streams in open woods from 0–500 m elevation and is drought‑tolerant, preferring full sun and well‑drained soils; its range includes Ontario and many eastern and southern states. For cultivation, Celtis tenuifolia is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9, tolerates drought once established, and prefers full sun with well‑drained soils; it tolerates dry, rocky or calcareous soils and is suited for native plantings, butterfly gardens, and wildlife landscapes, providing three‑season interest and a potential small shade tree or large shrub in the landscape. It can spread by root suckers if not managed and may suffer from leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
Min height not specified; Max height 26.5 feet
Spread
8-15 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4b-9a
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy to loamy soil, ideally calcareous/alkaline with a limestone base
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0-8.0
Bloom Color
Greenish to yellowish-green
Bloom Time
Spring (April–May)
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Nutt.
- Publication
- Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 202 (1818)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Cannabaceae
- Genus
- Celtis
Synonyms
Celtis americana Celtis georgiana Celtis longifolia Celtis occidentalis subsp. georgiana Celtis occidentalis var. grandidentata Celtis occidentalis subsp. tenuifolia Celtis pumila var. georgiana Celtis salicifolia Celtis tenuifolia var. georgiana Celtis tenuifolia var. soperi Celtis tenuifolia var. tenuifolia Celtis fuscata Celtis grandidentata Celtis occidentalis var. georgiana Celtis laevigata