Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rosales>Cannabaceae>Celtis occidentalis L.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Common Hackberry is a medium-large tree of moist habitats, fairly rare in North Carolina. The leaves are broader, more heavily toothed, and rougher above than the much more common Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), which is also a large tree of wet habitats. Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia) is similar, but is a shrub or small tree of drier areas with slightly smaller leaves that are less regularly toothed at the base.

French Broad River, Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Celtis occidentalis is fairly rare in the Piedmont of North Carolina, where it is usually associated with basic soil, as here near the Dan River. Celtis laevigata is much more common, more widespread, and grows on a wider range of soils.

These leaves are photographed from below.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

The fruits are drupes, which start out dark green and ripen to a deep reddish-purplish.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/21/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Three species of butterflies feed on the leaves as larvae: Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor, and American Snout.

Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC 7/4/2003.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

The bark is warty, like that of Sugarberry.

Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC 7/4/2003.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/21/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

More information:
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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