Celtis occidentalis

Common Names

Hackberry, Beaverwood, Common Hackberry, American Hackberry, Nettletree, Northern Hackberry, Sugarberry

Summary

Common hackberry is a native deciduous tree of central and eastern North America with a large rounded vase-shaped to spreading crown and upright-arching branches; gray bark with corky ridges and warty texture is a distinctive feature, while leaves are alternate, simple, ovate with serrated margins and the greenish flowers give way to round fleshy drupes that ripen purple-black and persist into winter, fruits edible for wildlife and humans. The species is fast-growing and well-suited to urban environments, offering year-round visual interest through bark texture, foliage, and fruit, and it supports wildlife by hosting caterpillars and providing berry food for birds and mammals.

Cultivation favors full sun to partial shade and a wide range of soils, including clay, sand, or humus-rich loam, with moisture conditions ranging from moist to well-drained; drought tolerance and occasional flooding tolerance, along with urban-appropriate resilience to heat and wind, are noted, and hardiness is USDA zones 3–9. Uses include shade tree, street tree, windbreak, rain garden, and wildlife planting; propagation is commonly by stratified seed (60–90 days) or root cuttings, and low-maintenance management is aided by dormant-season pruning; cultivars such as Chicagoland Hackberry, Prairie Pride, and Windy City offer varied forms. Watch for nipple gall, witches’ broom, powdery mildew, leaf spots, root rot, and ice damage risk, while fruits provide year-round wildlife food.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-60 feet

Spread

40-60 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Loamy soil rich in organic matter that drains well

Soil Drainage

No single ideal drainage; adaptable to a wide range from well-drained to poorly-drained soils, tolerates occasional wet to prolonged dry, and can thrive in moist, well-drained or well-draining soils.

Soil pH

5.0-8.0, tolerates acidic to alkaline soils, no single ideal pH (lower limit about 5.0; avoid pH above ~8).

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (April–May)

Foliage Color

Green foliage, turning yellow in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast-growing, about 1–2 feet per year.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, and Root Sprouts/Suckers (root-based vegetative propagation)

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Butterflies