# common hackberry (*Celtis occidentalis*) The common hackberry is a tall tree with rough bark and small, sweet berries. It provides shade and food for many animals, making it a great tree for parks and gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![common hackberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hackberry_winter_form.JPG&width=800) Photo: Masebrock at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hackberry_winter_form.JPG) ## Appearance The common hackberry is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its unique, corky, warty bark. Its alternate, ovate leaves are rough to the touch with toothed edges. Small, round, dark purple fruits develop in fall, persisting into winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Cannabaceae - **Genus:** Celtis ## Interesting facts - Birds love hackberry fruit so much, they help spread its seeds everywhere. - Its sweet berries taste like dates and are safe for humans to eat! - Native Americans used hackberry bark for traditional medicine and yellow dye. - The unusual bumpy bark on a hackberry feels like sandpaper mixed with cork! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Common hackberry can thrive in dry conditions thanks to its deep root system that finds water far below ground. - **Warty Armor:** Common hackberry has incredibly thick, warty bark that provides unique shelter for insects and makes it tough against damage. - **Winter Feast:** Common hackberry's sweet, purple berries cling to branches through winter, providing a crucial food source for birds when other food is scarce. - **City Survivor:** Common hackberry can tolerate harsh urban conditions, including pollution and poor soil, making it a resilient city tree. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1200-2500 cm - **Spread:** 900-1500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — feeds on its sweet berries in winter - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — enjoys its persistent fruits year-round - **Depends on:** [Hackberry Emperor](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hackberry-emperor) (*Asterocampa celtis*) — its caterpillars exclusively eat hackberry leaves - **Eats:** Hackberry Leafminer (*Phyllocnistis celtifoliella*) — larvae create winding tunnels within leaves - **Eats:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — consumes the nutritious hackberry fruits ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring near trees and be careful of falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common hackberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common hackberry? 1200-2500 cm ### How wide does common hackberry spread? 900-1500 cm ### How big are the flowers on common hackberry? 0.3-0.6 cm ### When does common hackberry bloom? Spring ### Is common hackberry edible? Yes ### Is common hackberry toxic? None ### What is common hackberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Circleville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/circleville-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gibraltar-rock-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Miami Whitewater Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-whitewater-forest) — Ohio, US · Park - [Rutgers Ecological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-ecological-preserve) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henry-vilas-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo [View all places to see common hackberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-hackberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Hackberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hackberry)