Hackberry Tree

Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a deciduous North American tree with a rounded crown, toothed leaves, and distinctive corky ridges on older bark. Mature size varies by site: the Forest Service describes typical trees around 30–50 feet tall, while landscape sources report broader crowns and larger trees on favorable sites. ## Size and siting The [Forest Service Silvics profile](https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/hackberry) describes hackberry’s broad soil and climate range, spring flowers, and dark red to purple fruit that ripens in fall and may persist into spring. [Oregon State University](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/celtis-occidentalis) reports a similar spread to height and tolerance of sun, varied soils, and urban conditions. Allow generous room for the crown and roots, and avoid sites with permanently saturated soil. ## Wildlife and seasonal interest The [USDA NRCS fact sheet](https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceoc.pdf) notes that birds feed on the fruit and use mature trees for nesting. Existing common-name aliases are retained, with “Common Hackberry” added as a widely used name. ## Maintenance Water young trees during establishment and prune selectively to develop sound structure. Monitor for leaf galls; the Forest Service describes common gall problems that affect appearance but are generally not fatal.