What kind of tree is Celtis occidentalis?

Celtis occidentalis, commonly known as hackberry, is a deciduous tree in the elm family that typically reaches 40 to 60 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown.

What growing conditions does hackberry need?

Hackberry does best in full sun but also tolerates part sun and part shade, and it adapts to a wide range of soil moisture from wetter bottomland sites to dry, rocky ground.

What pollinates the flowers of Celtis occidentalis?

The small greenish flowers open in April and May and are visited by bees and beetles, which assist with pollination.

Is Celtis occidentalis a good shade tree for a yard?

Yes, its rounded canopy and tolerance for varied soil and light conditions make it a durable choice for shading a lawn or street planting.

Is Northern Hackberry toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Northern Hackberry as toxic to livestock.

Is Northern Hackberry HOA-friendly?

Northern Hackberry is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Northern Hackberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Celtis occidentalis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Celtis occidentalis, or hackberry, is a medium to large deciduous shade tree that blooms in April and May. It grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates soils from moist bottomlands to dry rocky ground.

Toxicity unknown

Northern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Northern Hackberry as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

300"–600" H × 300"–600" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 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

Northwestern Forested Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Cross Timbers Texas Blackland Prairies South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Piedmont Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Northern hackberry is a large native shade tree that grows 25-50 feet tall with an equal spread. It has a rounded crown and produces small inconspicuous flowers in spring followed by small purple berries in fall. The tree is very adaptable to different soil conditions and urban environments.

Growing Northern Hackberry

Grow Northern Hackberry in full sun and medium 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.

In an HOA neighborhood

Northern Hackberry is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.

Large mature size requires adequate space
May produce some berry drop in fall

Wildlife value

Host plant for hackberry butterfly, question mark butterfly.

This tree supports over 40 butterfly and moth species as a host plant, including hackberry emperor and mourning cloak butterflies. The berries provide food for many bird species throughout fall and winter.

Common questions

What kind of tree is Celtis occidentalis?: Celtis occidentalis, commonly known as hackberry, is a deciduous tree in the elm family that typically reaches 40 to 60 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown.
What growing conditions does hackberry need?: Hackberry does best in full sun but also tolerates part sun and part shade, and it adapts to a wide range of soil moisture from wetter bottomland sites to dry, rocky ground.
What pollinates the flowers of Celtis occidentalis?: The small greenish flowers open in April and May and are visited by bees and beetles, which assist with pollination.
Is Celtis occidentalis a good shade tree for a yard?: Yes, its rounded canopy and tolerance for varied soil and light conditions make it a durable choice for shading a lawn or street planting.
Is Northern Hackberry toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Northern Hackberry as toxic to livestock.
Is Northern Hackberry HOA-friendly?: Northern Hackberry is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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.

See all plant problem guides

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