Dwarf Hackberry Celtis tenuifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Celtis pumila
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEL-tis ten-yoo-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Dwarf Hackberry is a rapidly growing, flowering, deciduous tree with a narrow crown that may grow 20 to 30 feet tall. It is native, but fairly rare, to the southeastern United States and sometimes found on dry rocky or gravelly soils in foothills and bluffs, on slopes and along streams in open woods. The broad leaves are alternate with some leaves completely untoothed, while other leaves on the same plant may be toothed halfway to the asymmetrical base. The bark is gray and smooth with small warts. In spring, small, stalked, light green flowers mature. The small tree produces an orange-red to dark purple drupe that matures in the fall. The fruit is edible and sweet to the taste.
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, Dwarf Hackberry are very long-lived. The tree suckers, but it primarily naturalizes by seed dispersal. It is not considered invasive in the United States. The genus name, celtis, is the Greek word for the hackberry tree. The species name, tenuifolia, is Latin for thin leaf, although the leaves actually vary in thickness.
While it tolerates partial shade and poor soil, it does not tolerate full shade and prefers to be grown in full sun in moist, well-drained soil that is high in organic material. It will self-seed easily, or you can propagate it through stem cuttings. This tough plant tolerates drought, wind, urban conditions, dry, wet, and poor soils.
This plants serves as a host to several butterflies, including American snout (Libytheana carinenta), Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), Tawny emperor (Asterocampa clyton), and Question mark (Polygonia interrogationis).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Celtis
- Species:
- tenuifolia
- Family:
- Cannabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- An uncommon native small tree or large shrub is found in locations that include dry uplands, open woodlands and sandy habitats near the shore.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United States, eastern Canada
- Distribution:
- Mississippi north to Ontario, southeast to Connecticut, south to Florida.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant for several butterflies including American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Also a host plant for the American Snout, Mourning Cloak and Tawny Emperer. Three species of butterflies feed on the leaves as larvae: Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor, and American Snout. Many birds and small mammals eat the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 36 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The sweet fruit is a berry-like drupe, 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, consisting of a single stone encased within a thin, sweet mesocarp. From green, it becomes a light orange, then a dark red, then purplish-brown. This edible drupe with smooth outer skin and a pulpy yellow inside is relished by small mammals and birds. Drupes display from August to October.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of the Dwarf Hackberry are insignificant, monecious, occurring either singularly or in small clusters. This species is wind-pollinated and appears to be self-compatible. Blooms from April to May.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves of the Dwarf Hackberry are alternate, simple, elliptical, and ovate. They have broad, heavily toothed or smooth margins, and sand papery texture. They are similar to common hackberry (C. occidentalis) but has slightly narrower leaves that are more regularly toothed at the base. Dwarf Hackberry are cordate (heart-shaped) at the base, while common hackberry usually are not. The winter buds are brown and hairy, similar to those of other hackberries, but smaller, only 1 to 2 centimeters long. Terminal buds absent.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Grey, smooth bark with corky ridges or warts.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Fire
