Heirloom

Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

red round fruits on green leaves during daytime

A tough, adaptable native tree that thrives where other shade trees struggle, making it perfect for challenging sites and urban environments. This undemanding tree grows quickly into a graceful, vase-shaped canopy that provides excellent filtered shade through its small, elm-like leaves. Wildlife enthusiasts love hackberry for its small berries that feed over 40 bird species throughout fall and winter.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

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Zones

3–9

USDA hardiness

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Height

40-100 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

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Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Showing dates for Hackberry in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 shade-tree →

Zone Map

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Hackberry · Zones 3–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Very easy

Spacing35-50 feet

SoilExtremely adaptable, tolerates poor and compacted soils

pH6.0-8.0

WaterLow — drought tolerant

SeasonSpring and Summer

FlavorN/A

ColorBright green summer foliage, yellow fall color

Size40-60 feet tall, 25-45 feet spread

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	June – August	—	—
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	—
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	—
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	—
Zone 9	—	March – May	—	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 24-60 feet, more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Female flowers give way to an often abundant fruit crop of round fleshy berry-like drupes maturing to deep purple. Each drupe has one round brown seed within. Birds consume the fruits and disperse the seeds. The globular fruit is borne singly on stems 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long. It ripens in September, but often remains on the tree through the winter.

Color: Orange, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy. Type: Berry, Drupe. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Fall

Edibility: Fleshy parts of the fruit are edible and somewhat sweet. Can be eaten raw or used for making jellies and preserves.

Storage & Preservation

Hackberry berries are best stored fresh in the refrigerator at 32-40°F in a breathable container, where they'll keep for 1-2 weeks. For longer preservation, dry the berries by spreading them in a single layer in a warm, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks until brittle. Store dried berries in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months. Alternatively, freeze fresh berries on a tray before transferring to freezer bags for 8-12 months of storage. A third option is to ferment the berries with salt and herbs to create a traditional preserve.

History & Origin

Origin: Central & E. Canada to N. & E. U.S.A

Advantages

+Attracts: Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
+Edible: Fleshy parts of the fruit are edible and somewhat sweet. Can be eaten raw or used for making jellies and preserves.
+Fast-growing

Companion Plants

Wild ginger and ferns belong under a hackberry because all three tolerate dry shade — once the canopy closes at 10-15 years, that ground layer gets little rain and heavy root competition, and most ornamentals just give up. Redbud (Cercis canadensis) pairs well at 15-20 feet out; it occupies a lower canopy layer and blooms in early spring before hackberry leafs out, so the two aren't fighting for the same light window. Keep Kentucky bluegrass out of a 40-foot radius — it's a high-water-demand turf that actively outcompetes hackberry's surface feeder roots and shuts out the native groundcovers that thrive in the leaf litter. Pine trees are a problem for a different reason: their needle drop pushes soil pH below hackberry's 6.0 tolerance floor over time.

Plant Together

Wild Ginger

Thrives in shade conditions under hackberry canopy, provides natural groundcover

Redbud

Compatible understory tree that tolerates hackberry's filtered shade

Spicebush

Native shrub that benefits from hackberry's wind protection and partial shade

Coral Bells

Shade-tolerant perennial that complements hackberry's root zone without competition

Wild Columbine

Adapts well to dappled shade and benefits from hackberry's leaf litter mulch

Ferns

Thrive in the moist, shaded environment created by hackberry's canopy

Virginia Creeper

Provides additional wildlife habitat while tolerating hackberry's shade

Hosta

Shade-loving perennial that benefits from hackberry's consistent canopy cover

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to hackberry and inhibits its growth

Pine Trees

Acidifies soil significantly, creating inhospitable conditions for hackberry

Kentucky Bluegrass

Competes aggressively for surface water and nutrients that hackberry needs

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Very disease resistant

Common Pests

Hackberry nipple gall, witches broom, psyllids

Diseases

Generally disease-free, occasional witches broom

Troubleshooting Hackberry

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Small, wart-like bumps (galls) clustered on leaf undersides, often causing leaf curl

Likely Causes

Hackberry nipple gall psyllid (Pachypsylla celtidismamma) — tiny insects that inject tissue during bud break, triggering abnormal growth
High psyllid populations from previous season overwintering in bark crevices

What to Do

1.No treatment is needed for tree health — galls are cosmetic and don't kill the tree
2.Rake and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn to reduce overwintering psyllid numbers
3.If infestation is severe on a young tree under 10 feet tall, a dormant oil spray in early spring before bud break can knock back psyllid populations

Dense, broom-like clusters of twigs sprouting from branches, looking like bird nests year-round

Likely Causes

Witches broom — caused by a combination of the powdery mildew fungus Sphaerotheca phytoptophila and the eriophyid mite Eriophyes celtis acting together
Common on Celtis occidentalis; considered a near-universal trait of the species at maturity

What to Do

1.Prune out affected branches 6-8 inches below the broom cluster if appearance matters on a specimen or street tree
2.Disinfect pruning tools between cuts with a 10% bleach solution to avoid spreading mite-borne material
3.No chemical control is reliably effective — accept it as a species characteristic or select a less susceptible cultivar

Young tree under 3 years showing wilted, scorched leaves in midsummer despite adequate rainfall

Likely Causes

Transplant shock — hackberry has a coarse root system that resents disturbance and takes 1-2 full seasons to re-establish
Planting too deep, burying the root flare below grade and cutting off oxygen to feeder roots

What to Do

1.Water deeply once a week (1-1.5 inches) during the first two summers; after that, hackberry genuinely doesn't need the help
2.Check the root flare — it should sit at or just above soil grade; backfill if it was planted too deep
3.Mulch a 3-4 foot ring around the base with 2-3 inches of wood chips, keeping mulch clear of the trunk

Stunted growth and pale yellow-green leaves on a tree planted near an established black walnut

Likely Causes

Juglone toxicity — black walnut (Juglans nigra) releases juglone from its roots, toxic to many woody plants within roughly 50-60 feet of the trunk
Young hackberries are more affected than established ones; trees under 4 feet are most vulnerable

What to Do

1.Move young trees at least 60 feet from the walnut's drip line before the taproot sets — once a hackberry passes 6 feet, transplanting gets very hard
2.If relocation isn't possible, improve drainage; juglone binds to soil particles and concentrates worse in waterlogged spots
3.No amendment neutralizes juglone in the ground — distance is the only fix that actually works

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a hackberry tree to produce berries?▼

Hackberry trees typically begin producing berries within 3-5 years of planting. Peak production occurs once the tree is mature (10+ years), when it reliably produces abundant small berries that ripen in fall. Young trees may produce sporadic crops before reaching full productivity. The exact timeline depends on growing conditions and tree vigor.

Is hackberry a good shade tree for beginners?▼

Yes, hackberry is excellent for beginners. It's extremely low-maintenance, tolerates poor soils, compacted conditions, and adapts to various climates. Once established, it requires minimal watering or pruning. Its fast growth rate and tough nature make it forgiving of common gardening mistakes, making it ideal for novice tree growers.

Can hackberry trees grow in urban environments?▼

Absolutely. Hackberry is specifically prized for urban and challenging sites where other shade trees struggle. It tolerates compacted soils, pollution, salt spray, and drought once established. Its adaptability to poor conditions, rapid growth, and graceful vase shape make it a perfect choice for cities, parking lots, and difficult landscapes.

What do hackberry berries taste like?▼

Hackberry berries have a mild, slightly sweet flavor reminiscent of dates or raisins when dried. The taste is subtle and not strongly distinctive. The berries are small and contain a large seed relative to the flesh. While edible and eaten by wildlife, they're not typically cultivated for human consumption.

How much sun does a hackberry tree need?▼

Hackberry thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight daily. While it adapts to lower light conditions, full sun (6+ hours) produces the most vigorous growth and fuller canopy. Its flexibility regarding sun exposure is one of its most valuable traits for difficult planting locations.

What pests affect hackberry trees?▼

Common hackberry pests include hackberry nipple gall (causes small, wart-like growths on leaves), witches broom (creates abnormal branch clusters), and psyllids (small insects that feed on sap). These rarely cause serious damage to established, healthy trees. Management typically involves pruning affected branches and maintaining tree vigor through proper watering.