When does Sugar Hackberry bloom?

Sugar Hackberry produces small, inconspicuous flowers in April and May before the tree is fully leafed out.

What pollinators visit Sugar Hackberry?

The flowers are visited primarily by bees and beetles, which are drawn to the tree's early spring bloom.

How much water does Sugar Hackberry need?

This tree tolerates a wide range of moisture conditions, from occasional flooding along river bottoms to drier upland sites, though it grows best with medium, consistent moisture.

What light conditions suit Sugar Hackberry best?

Sugar Hackberry grows best in full sun but tolerates part sun and part shade, often thriving as an understory or edge tree in open woodlands.

What type of habitat does Sugar Hackberry prefer?

It commonly grows in bottomland forests, along streambanks and on floodplains, as well as in drier upland woods and fencerows throughout its range.

Is Sugar Hackberry toxic to livestock?

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

Is Sugar Hackberry HOA-friendly?

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

Sugar Hackberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Celtis laevigata

Last reviewed: September 2026

Sugar Hackberry is a medium to large deciduous tree that thrives in full sun along riverbanks, floodplains and upland woods across the southeastern and south-central United States, blooming in April and May.

Toxicity unknown

Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) 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 Sugar Hackberry as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–600" H × 240"–480" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 16 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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Sugar hackberry is a large deciduous shade tree that grows 20-50 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown. It produces small flowers in spring followed by small berries that wildlife enjoy. This adaptable tree tolerates various soil conditions and provides excellent shade for larger landscapes.

Growing Sugar Hackberry

Grow Sugar Hackberry in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 600 inches tall and spread 240 to 480 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

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

Very large mature size may not suit smaller yards
Berries can create minor cleanup needs

Wildlife value

Host plant for hackberry butterfly, question mark butterfly.

The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The small berries feed numerous bird species, and the tree serves as a host plant for butterfly larvae.

Common questions

When does Sugar Hackberry bloom?: Sugar Hackberry produces small, inconspicuous flowers in April and May before the tree is fully leafed out.
What pollinators visit Sugar Hackberry?: The flowers are visited primarily by bees and beetles, which are drawn to the tree's early spring bloom.
How much water does Sugar Hackberry need?: This tree tolerates a wide range of moisture conditions, from occasional flooding along river bottoms to drier upland sites, though it grows best with medium, consistent moisture.
What light conditions suit Sugar Hackberry best?: Sugar Hackberry grows best in full sun but tolerates part sun and part shade, often thriving as an understory or edge tree in open woodlands.
What type of habitat does Sugar Hackberry prefer?: It commonly grows in bottomland forests, along streambanks and on floodplains, as well as in drier upland woods and fencerows throughout its range.
Is Sugar Hackberry toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Sugar Hackberry as toxic to livestock.
Is Sugar Hackberry HOA-friendly?: Sugar 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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