Celtis occidentalis
Hackberry, Common hackberry
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Celtis occidentalis.
General Information
Plant Properties
Growth conditions
Moist, Well-drained
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Full sun
Usage properties
Fruit, Seed
Wood, Dye
Description
Fruit - raw. These fruits are very sweet and have a pleasant taste. They can be eaten fresh or used for jam, preserves, and so on. They are often abundantly produced in Great Britain. They are about the size of blackcurrants but have little flesh around a large pit, making them not very convenient. The fruits are dark orange to purple or blue-black when fully ripe, usually with a diameter of 7-11 mm, but sometimes up to 20 mm large. The flesh is dry and crumbly but has a pleasant sweet taste. The seed can be ground together with the fruit and used as a flavoring. Native North Americans ate them along with dried corn.