Chinese Hackberry Celtis sinensis 'Green Cascade'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Chinese Hackberry:
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEL-tis sy-NEN-sis
- Description
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The 'Green Cascade' cultivar, or Weeping Japanese Hackberry, is a rapidly growing, flowering, deciduous tree in the hemp family and a cultivar of C. sinesis, Chinese Hackberry. At maturity and with the proper support to overcome its propensity to spread along the ground, it can reach 20 feet high and wide. It can be trained and supported by use of trellises, arbors, pergolas or gates. Having no tendrils and its inability to twine, support by means of draping or tying must be provided. If no support is attempted, it will grow along the ground.
These trees thrive in hot summers and sunlight; lack of sun can cause the wood to not fully ripen making them subject to die-back in winter. Under optimum conditions, Japanese Weeping Hackberry are very long-lived. The tree suckers, but it primarily naturalizes by seed dispersal. It can be invasive in some environments and has been declared a noxious weed in parts of South Africa and Australia. It is not considered invasive in the United States.
While it tolerates partial shade and poor soil, it prefers to be grown in full sun in moist, well-drained soil that is high in organic material. This tough plant tolerates drought, wind, urban conditions, dry, wet, and poor soils.
'Green Cascade' can be trained to cascade over gates, trellises and other such structures. Its natural form will grow in a weeping fashion, and if not supported, it will spread to the ground in a mounded form. Not having tendrils, it must be attached to or draped over its support in order to take advantage of its natural beauty.
To duplicate its weeping habit, 'Green Cascade' must be asexually propagated.
Although not considered to be invasive in the United States, in other parts of the world, particularly South Africa and Australia's eastern coast, it is considered a noxious weed.
Birds are attracted to the fruits and disperse the seeds.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Witches broom, Hackberry nipple gall, powdery mildew, leaf spot and root rot are occasional problems. Lace bugs and scale are also issues for this plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Celtis
- Species:
- sinensis
- Family:
- Cannabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Beautiful specimen for a trellis, arbor, gate, pergola and other structures where support for the plant can be provided.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Screening
- Textural
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The greenish1/3 of an inch fruits turn orange, then mature in the fall to reddish-brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous monoecious greenish flowers bloom from the leaf axils and stem bases from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pointed, round-toothed green leaves (2 to 5 inches long) are dark and glossy above but paler and somewhat hairy beneath with rounded to obliquely truncate bases. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Like other hackberries, the leaves have three prominent veins. The bases are a little less uneven than native species.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray to gray-brown bark when mature.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Urban Conditions
- Wind
- Problems:
- Weedy