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Netleaf Hackberry

Celtis reticulata

Last reviewed: October 2026

Netleaf Hackberry is a drought tolerant tree that blooms from March through May and thrives in full sun with low water once established, often found along dry washes and rocky slopes.

Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulata)
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

Toxicity unknown

Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

300"–600" H × 300"–600" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 9 more states

Pollinators

butterflies

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central California Foothills and Coastal MountainsCentral California ValleySouthern California MountainsNorthwestern Forested MountainsNorth American DesertsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeSouthern RockiesArizona/New Mexico MountainsChihuahuan DesertsHigh PlainsSouthwestern TablelandsCentral Great PlainsCross TimbersEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsMadrean ArchipelagoSonoran Basin and RangeSouthern California/Northern Baja Coast

Netleaf Hackberry is a drought-tolerant native Texas tree that develops a rounded canopy at maturity. This hardy deciduous tree produces small spring flowers followed by small berries that wildlife enjoy. Its distinctive net-veined leaves and rugged bark give it year-round character.

Growing Netleaf Hackberry

Grow Netleaf Hackberry in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 300 to 600 inches tall and spread 300 to 600 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Netleaf Hackberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
  • Best suited for backyard or with special approval

Wildlife value

This tree serves as a host plant for several butterfly species and its berries provide food for birds throughout fall and winter.

Common questions

When does Netleaf Hackberry bloom?
Netleaf Hackberry produces small, inconspicuous flowers in March, April, and May before its leaves fully expand.
How much water does Netleaf Hackberry need?
Once established, Netleaf Hackberry tolerates low water conditions well, though it can also handle moderate moisture in well-drained soil.
What kind of light does Netleaf Hackberry prefer?
This tree grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade conditions, especially near canyon walls or rocky outcrops.
Do pollinators use Netleaf Hackberry?
Butterflies visit Netleaf Hackberry, and its foliage serves as a larval host plant for several hackberry-feeding butterfly species.
What is the growth habit of Netleaf Hackberry?
Netleaf Hackberry grows as a small to medium sized deciduous tree with a rounded, often irregular canopy and rough, warty bark.
Is Netleaf Hackberry HOA-friendly?
Netleaf Hackberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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