Southern Hackberry Celtis laevigata

Other Common Name(s):

Description

The Celtis laevigata tree is a deciduous tree that may grow 70 to 80 feet tall. The leaves are alternate, exhibiting a smooth margin in old trees and singly toothed margin in juvenile trees. The bark is smooth between raised, corky warts. The Sugarberry tree has very small (1/8") greenish-white flowers that mature in the spring. The tree produces a dull orange fruit that matures in the fall and is sweet to the taste. Beware that the seeds can pose clean up problems if trees are sited near sidewalks or patios.

Trunk diameter ranges from 1-3’ (less frequently to 4’). The mature gray bark develops a warty texture. Sugarberry has good resistance to witches’ broom (dwarfed, dense, contorted twig clusters at the branch ends). This tree is moderately salt tolerant.

Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom: Spring Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fruit (drupe)

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Hackberry nipple gall is common and while it disfigures the leaves it does not hurt these trees. Powdery mildew and leaf spot may occur.

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

#butterflies #fruit #deciduous #birds #shade tree #wildlife plant #salt tolerant #host plant #street tree #playground #small mammals #low flammability #buffer #children's garden #fire resistant #edible fruits #screening #Braham Arboretum

Celtis laevigata Homer Edward Price CC BY 2.0

Celtis laevigata reticulata setting fruit in early summer. Matt Lavin CC-BY-SA 2.0

Ripe sugar berries in the fall. Royce Milam CC BY 2.0

Warty bark of the sugar hackberry taken in Johnston Mill, NC. bobistraveling CC BY 2.0

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

Attributes:
Genus:

Celtis

Species:

laevigata

Family:

Cannabaceae

Uses (Ethnobotany):

The Houma used a concentrate made from the bark to treat sore throats and decoction make from the bark ground up shells to treat venereal diseases, the berries were consumed by Native Americans, the Navajo boiled leaves and branches to make dark brown and red dye for wool

Life Cycle:

Woody

Country Or Region Of Origin:

United States

Distribution:

MD west to KS northeast to Washington south through CA TX and FL

Fire Risk Rating:

low flammability

Wildlife Value:

The Sugarberry tree is a host plant for the American Snout, Mourning Cloak, Question Mark, Hackberry Emperor and Tawny Emperor butterflies. Many bird species and small mammals eat the fruit. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.

Play Value:

Buffer

Edible fruit

Screening

Shade

Wildlife Food Source

Wildlife Nesting

Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):

Fire in landscape. Deer and witches' broom.

Dimensions:

Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.

Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 8 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Native Plant

Tree

Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Rounded

Growth Rate:

Rapid

Maintenance:

Low

Texture:

Fine

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

High Organic Matter

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Moist

Very Dry

Available Space To Plant:

24-60 feet

more than 60 feet

NC Region:

Coastal

Piedmont

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Orange

Purple/Lavender

Red/Burgundy

Fruit Value To Gardener:

Edible

Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Type:

Berry

Drupe

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Fruit Description:

Female flowers give way to an often abundant fruit crop of round fleshy berry-like drupes maturing to deep purple. Each drupe has one round brown seed within. Fruits are attractive to a variety of wildlife. Birds consume the fruits and disperse the seeds. Fleshy parts of the fruit are edible and sweet.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Green

White

Flower Inflorescence:

Insignificant

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Size:

< 1 inch

Flower Description:

Insignificant, mostly monoecious, greenish flowers appear in spring (April–May), with male flowers in clusters and female flowers solitary.

Leaves:
Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Feel:

Rough

Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

Gold/Yellow

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Shape:

Lanceolate

Oblong

Ovate

Leaf Margin:

Entire

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

1-3 inches

Leaf Width:

1-3 inches

Leaf Description:

The leaves are ovate to oblong-lanceolate, rough-textured, untoothed, glossy to dull green leaves (2-4” long) have mostly uneven leaf bases. They have an undistinguished yellow fall color.

Bark:
Bark Color:

Light Brown

Light Gray

Surface/Attachment:

Smooth

Bark Description:

The bark is smooth between raised, corky warts.

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Recreational Play Area

Landscape Theme:

Butterfly Garden

Children's Garden

Native Garden

Pollinator Garden

Design Feature:

Shade Tree

Street Tree

Attracts:

Butterflies

Songbirds

Resistance To Challenges:

Deer

Fire

Salt

Problems:

Messy