FNPS Plant Database

Celtis laevigata

hackberry, sugarberry
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

hackberry, sugarberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Celtis laevigata

Family:

Celtidaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

60 to 80 ft tall by 30 to 50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in early spring. Fruits ripe in fall. Lifespan up to 150 yrs (Nelson)

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

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:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Stays wet -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Neutral to calcareous.

Suitable to Grow In:

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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

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


Wind pollinated.

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

Native Habitats:

River floodplains, ruderal

Natural Range in Florida:

Loading Florida counties…

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Interesting, warty bark on some specimens.

Citations:

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala [Technical coordinators]. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). Accessed 2025.


Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Celtlaev ). Accessed 2025. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2025. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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