Plant Details

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry, Common hackberry

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Common names

30 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American hackberry[1]
  • beaverwood[1]
  • Common hackberry[1]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
  • Hackberry[1]
  • Nettle-tree[1]
  • northern hackberry[1]
  • pompion berry[1]
  • spice-berry[1]
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Zwepenboom[1]
French
  • Micocoulier occidental[1]
Afrikaans
  • Valswitstinkhout[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美洲朴树[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美洲朴樹[1]
Czech
  • břestovec západní[1]
Danish
  • amerikansk nældetræ[1]
Estonian
  • läänetseltis[1]
Finnish
  • amerikankeltis[1]
German
  • Amerikanischer Zürgelbaum[1]
Hebrew
  • מיש מערבי[1]
Hungarian
  • nyugati ostorfa[1]
Italian
  • Bagolaro occidentale[1]
Japanese
  • アメリカエノキ[1]
Miami
  • pakamaakaniši[1]
Polish
  • Wiązowiec zachodni[1]
Russian
  • Каркас западный[1]
Slovak
  • brestovec západný[1]
Slovenian
  • ameriški koprivovec[1]
Spanish
  • Palo blanco[1]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Каркас західний[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Celtis occidentalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common hackberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • hackberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Nettle-tree — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Amerikanischer Zürgelbaum — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • břestovec západní — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Каркас западный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • brestovec západný — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • micocoulier occidental — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Palo blanco — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • アメリカエノキ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • läänetseltis — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • 美洲朴树 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • 美洲朴樹 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Zwepenboom — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • bäralm — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Valswitstinkhout — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Каркас західний — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • pakamaakaniši — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • מיש מערבי — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • pompion berry — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • spice-berry — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • beaverwood — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • northern hackberry — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • nyugati ostorfa — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • amerikansk nældetræ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Bagolaro occidentale — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • amerikankeltis — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • American hackberry — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • Wiązowiec zachodni — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.
  • ameriški koprivovec — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 54857; Celtis occidentalis.

General information

Scientific name: Celtis occidentalis
Accepted name (Kew): Celtis occidentalis L. View name reference ↗

Kew and Catalogue of Life accept this species under the Linnaean name.

Sources [4]
Botanical family: Cannabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Celtis (WCVP v16).

Sources [3]
Also known as: Hackberry, Common hackberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 12.19–30.48 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Arching, Ascending, Broad, Pyramidal, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Wood, Dye

Description

Common hackberry is a deciduous tree. Its sweet fruit flesh has documented use fresh and in preserves; historical North American accounts also describe processed fruits as food.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Cylindrical and spreading

Description of mature trees.

Sources [1]
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. North Carolina State University Extension Celtis occidentalis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionCrown shapeHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. USDA NRCS Common Hackberry — Plant Guide
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Page 1; Uses / Ethnobotanic

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 744580; name ID 2708131; Celtis L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Celtis occidentalis L.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; Kew and Catalogue of Life accept this species under the Linnaean name.

    Source checked on .