Common Hackberry

The hackberry is considered to be a tough tree, as it can survive in a large span of temperatures and with varying degrees of rainfall, and it will withstand strong winds and air pollution. Overall, it is a relatively low-maintenance tree that can be ideal for ornamental or landscaping purposes. If you would like to attract birds, the fruit of the hackberry is a common food source for a wide variety of bird species.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Celtis occidentalis

HISTORY: There are recorded uses of the hackberry by Omaha, Dakota, and Pawnee Native Americans. The Omaha consumed the berries raw and whole, the Dakota used them to flavor meat, and the Pawnee pounded them and mixed them with parched corn for consumption. Early pioneers used durable hackberry wood for flooring and barrel hoops. It was first cultivated in 1636.

LEAVES: Hackberry trees have green, ovate to egg-shaped leaves that are usually 2-4 inches long and resemble those of elm trees - although the hackberry's are more sharply pointed. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: The "berries" of the hackberry tree are actually drupes, meaning they have a pit in the center surrounded by soft fleshy fruit. They begin green but turn to a deep purple or brown. They ripen in late summer and persist throughout winter.

FLOWERS: Hackberry tree flowers are inconspicuous.

BARK: The hackberry's bark is defined by its corky warts and ridges; it is usually grayish brown and somewhat scaly.

HEIGHT: Hackberry trees can attain heights of 40-60 feet.

USES: The wood of the hackberry tree is used for furniture, boxes/crates, and veneer, but is generally not available in places where it does not occur naturally. Its main use beyond landscaping is to attract and feed local wildlife.

SOURCES:

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/hackberry/#more-information

https://shop.arborday.org/hackberry

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceoc.pdf

https://archive.org/details/usesofplantsbyin00gilm

https://www.wood-database.com/hackberry/

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.