Sugar Hackberry
Celtis laevigata
Also listed as Celtis mississippiensis, Celtis americana
Also known as Sugarberry, Southern Hackberry
Climate Match for your location
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A medium to large deciduous tree native to southeastern North America with a broad, spreading canopy and small greenish flowers followed by berry-like drupes. It is drought-tolerant once established and provides excellent shade.
Why grow it
Sugar hackberry is a reliable choice for hot, dry sites where many shade trees struggle, particularly in the lower Mississippi valley and southeastern coastal plain. It tolerates poor soils and compaction better than most comparable native hardwoods, making it useful for challenging urban or rural settings. The small drupes attract wildlife, and the fine-textured foliage casts dappled rather than dense shade, allowing understory plants to establish beneath it.
Watch out for
The tree's thin bark can be susceptible to sunscald and frost crack in exposed locations, particularly when young. Witches' broom fungal infections occasionally disfigure branches but rarely threaten overall tree health. In optimal growing conditions, seedlings can appear prolifically, potentially requiring management if contained spread is desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cannabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A medium to large deciduous tree native to southeastern North America with a broad, spreading canopy and small greenish flowers followed by berry-like drupes. It is drought-tolerant once established and provides excellent shade.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sugar Hackberry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sugar hackberry is a reliable choice for hot, dry sites where many shade trees struggle, particularly in the lower Mississippi valley and southeastern coastal plain. It tolerates poor soils and compaction better than most comparable native hardwoods, making it useful for challenging urban or rural settings. The small drupes attract wildlife, and the fine-textured foliage casts dappled rather than dense shade, allowing understory plants to establish beneath it.
Watch out for
The tree's thin bark can be susceptible to sunscald and frost crack in exposed locations, particularly when young. Witches' broom fungal infections occasionally disfigure branches but rarely threaten overall tree health. In optimal growing conditions, seedlings can appear prolifically, potentially requiring management if contained spread is desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cannabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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