Common Name:

hackberry, sugarberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Celtis laevigata

Family:

Cannabaceae

Form:

tree

Size:

60-80 ft tall by 30-50 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial; lifespan up to 150 yrs (Nelson)

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous; inconspicuous blooms in early spring, with fruits ripening in fall

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Rarely used but suited to informal areas. Tolerant of root disturbance, so appropriate to parking lots and street tree uses.

Considerations:

Somewhat weak. Shallow root system limits plants growing under it.

Availability:

Propagation:

seed

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Stays Wet ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH:

neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B

Wildlife:

Fruits are eaten by a number of birds and small mammals.  Provides cover.

Larval host for hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) butterflies. Sole larval host plant for American snout butterfly (Libytheana carineta) in South Florida; also larval host for tawny emperor (Asterocampa clyton), question mark (Polygonia interrogationis) butterflies.

Wind pollinated.

Native Habitats:

River floodplains, ruderal

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Interesting, warty bark on some specimens.