Common Hackberry

Common Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Ulmaceae (Elm Family)

▲ mature tree in fall with yellow foliage

▲ foliage, showing 3 prominent veins arising from petiole and oblique leaf bases

▲ warty bark on younger trees

▲ ▼ scaly bark on older trees

▲ large tree after severe ice storm in January 2007 in Springfield, MO

Location on campus: at northwest corner of Cheek Hall

Celtis occidentalis: Common Hackberry

• leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, oblong to ovate with oblique base, serrate margins and pointed tip; medium to dark green above and rough-textured above and below; 2-5" long and 1/3-1/2 as wide; sometimes with good pale yellow fall color
• stems slender, olive brown, with many lenticels, shiny and somewhat pubescent; pith white, chambered
• bark is gray, scaley, sometimes with corky ridges or wart-like projections
• fruit is a dark purple drupe with very hard single seed, 1/4" diameter on long peduncle
• prefers full sun, and moist, high-organic matter soils, but very soil and environmentally tolerant
• medium to fast growth rate
• native to Missouri