Celtis laevigata
This medium-to-large deciduous North American native in the Cannabaceae family features corky, knobby bark, bears edible purple-red drupes that attract wildlife, and tolerates a broad range of soils and sites as a shade or street tree.
Common Names
Sugarberry, Sugar Hackberry, Southern Hackberry, Hackberry, Texas Sugarberry, Lowland Hackberry, Palo Blanco
Summary
Celtis laevigata, Sugar Hackberry, is a native southern United States large deciduous tree typically 60–80 feet tall with a 60–80 foot spread and a broad, vase-shaped crown. It features gray-brown to silvery bark with corky projections, and leaves 2–4 inches long that are oblong-lanceolate with serrate margins. Greenish flowers appear in spring, followed by small round fleshy drupes that ripen to deep purple and are edible for wildlife and humans; the combination of bark and fruit provides winter interest, while the tree serves as a sturdy shade or street tree.
In cultivation, Sugar Hackberry tolerates full sun to partial shade and a wide range of soils from moist to well-drained, with drought- and wind-tolerance once established. Hardiness ranges in USDA zones 5–9; it is often used in rain gardens and wildlife-friendly landscapes as a shade, street, or habitat tree. Pruning is recommended to develop strong branch structure and prevent weak crotches; potential issues include hackberry nipple gall, scale insects, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and witches’ broom. Propagation is by seed, with stratification sometimes recommended; fruits attract wildlife, enhancing landscape value.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
50-80 feet
Spread
60-80 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun to partial shade; tolerates partial sun/shade.
Soil Type
Medium to wet, organically rich, well-drained soils
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6-8; no single ideal pH, tolerates acidic to mildly alkaline soils.
Bloom Color
Insignificant
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green, with light green on top and paler green underneath, and yellow fall color.
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast to rapid growth, up to 24 inches per year
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Vegetative sprouting
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds, attracts butterflies, attracts bees
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Willd.
- Publication
- Berlin. Baumz. , ed. 2: 81 (1811)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Cannabaceae
- Genus
- Celtis
Synonyms
Momisia lamarckii Sponia laevigata Celtis americana Celtis berlandieri Celtis laevigata var. apposita Celtis laevigata var. brachyphylla Celtis laevigata f. microphylla Celtis laevigata var. smallii Celtis laevigata var. texana Celtis mississippiensis Celtis smallii Celtis texana Celtis laevigata var. laevigata Celtis laevigata var. anomala