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| ## COMMON hackberry {#common-hackberry .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Celtis occidentalis* L.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = CEOC                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Wildlife*: Birds use the mature trees for nesting sites and feed on the
fruit. Young stands also provide shelter for game birds, rabbits, and
deer.

*Erosion control*: Hackberry has been used as an ornamental tree and in
multi-row windbreaks.

*Livestock*: Grazing understory species can be helpful in reducing weed
competition, however if young seedlings are grazed tree defects could
occur resulting in low quality timber.

*Timber*: Hackberry has limited value in the manufacture of paneling and
furniture.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

![Color image of Common Hackberry (Celtis
occidentalis)](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.177165354330709in"
height="3.288976377952756in"}*Celtis occidentalis* L., common hackberry,
varies in size from a shrub to a tree in excess of 100 feet tall. It is
widespread in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Hackberry
grows best on moist alluvial soils, and occurs only as scattered trees
mixed with other hardwoods. The leaves are 2 ½ to 4 inches long, and 1 ½
inches wide, oval to lance-shaped, and resemble those of the elm but are
more sharply pointed. The bark is grayish brown, with characteristic
corky warts or ridges becoming somewhat scaly. The fruit is 1/4 inch to
1/3 inch in diameter, oval to somewhat round, dark red or purple,
ripening in September and October, but remaining on the tree for several
months.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Hackberry is commonly found on rich, moist sites along stream banks or
on flood plains, but will perform well under more adverse conditions. It
tolerates alkaline or acid soil conditions, full sun, and wind. It grows
in winter hardiness zones 2 through 8. New growth is subject to spring
frost injury. Common hackberry requires at least 14 inches annual
precipitation.

Hackberry is distributed throughout the eastern and midwestern United
States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile
page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Bareroot seedlings of hackberry grown under standard nursery practices
exhibit a degree of dormancy. Planting material should be spring lifted
followed by sweat treatments for one week at 60 °F, just prior to
planting. The sweating procedure involves placing the seedlings in moist
sand or peat moss and covering with plastic. Conservation grade stock
can be either 1 or 2 years old and 12 to 24 inches tall, with a caliper
of 3/16 to 1/2 inch.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Grazing should be controlled during establishment. Without protective
netting, deer and rabbits will severely damage the young seedlings. Weed
competition should be controlled by grazing or by using approved
herbicides.

Mature seeds can be hand-picked in September and October. Hackberry
seeds exhibit dormancy which can be overcome with stratification in
moist sand at 41 °F for 90 days or by fall planting. Fermenting the
fruit for 3 days and de-pulping before stratification improves
germination.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

The most common diseases found on hackberry are nipple gall and witches
broom gall. These diseases are not fatal, but do affect the appearance
and vigor of the plant.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Seedlings are available at most hardwood nurseries. 'Oahe' (South
Dakota) is recommended for use as farmstead, field and wildlife
windbreaks in the Northern Great Plains. 'Prairie Pride' was selected in
Illinois and is not known to develop witches broom gall.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

##### 

##### Edited: 01Feb2002 JLK; 01jun06 jsp {#edited-01feb2002-jlk-01jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*