FNPS Plant Database

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry
  • Photo by: Rick Cantrell, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Hackberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Celtis occidentalis

Family:

Celtidaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

15-20 ft tall by to 10 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Not typically grown but worth retaining if present as an understory tree.

Considerations:

Has a shallow root system that may prevent plants from growing under it.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

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, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

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

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Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for hackberry 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. 

Native Habitats:

Along stream edges, moist woodlands, floodplains, and hammocks

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Used for furniture, athletic goods, boxes and crates, and plywood. The common name apparently was derived from hagberry, meaning marsh berry, a name used in Scotland for a cherry.

General Comments:

Further north, this can be a moderately large tree.

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.


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.


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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