Southern Utah University

Table of Contents

Locations

  1. Campus Features

    1. Tree Tour

      1. Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

        Latin Name - Celtis occidentalis
        Height - 40-80 feet
        Spread - 40-50 feet
        Growth Rate - Fast
        USDA Zone - 3 to 9
        Drought Tolerance - Moderate

        Common hackberry is a fast-growing tree native to the Midwestern United States and is widely recommended for street planting in both residential and commercial landscapes. Mature bark looks rough, corky (mud-splattered) and is light gray in color. It produces a small berry-looking fruit that is relished by birds but is ornamentally insignificant. Foliage is often dotted with warty growths called hackberry nipple galls. They are unsightly but cause little harm to the tree itself. Common hackberry is serviceable rather than beautiful, able to grow in conditions that many other trees cannot tolerate.