Common Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Also known as: Dwarf Hackberry

Chhe (talk)

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Cannabaceae
Genus:: Celtis
Species:: Celtis occidentalis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub , Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: apr, may
Bloom Colors:: Green, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Alurina Quaker (Orthosia alurina?), American lappet moth (Phyllodesma americana), Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Leopard moth (Zeuzera pyrina), Nephopterix celtidella, Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), Phyllonorycter celtifoliella, Phyllonorycter celtisella, Puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis), Red-shouldered dagger moth (Acronicta rubricoma), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Wild Cherry Sphinx (Sphinx drupiferarum), American snout butterfly (Libytheana carinenta), 🛑Bachman's snout butterfly (Libytheana bachmanii), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: adaptable to various soil types

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 60 to 90 days and germinated at 21 C (69.8 F). Some protocols also suggest imbibing seeds in water for 2 days. Seeds are sown outdoors in nursery beds in the fall soon after collection and cleaning for natural stratification.

Establishment: Seeds are collected from various sources, including wild collection during fall months, parks in October, and local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. The fruit is an orange to reddish, purplish, or black drupe that contains a single seed or nutlet. The hard, bony seeds are cream-colored and approximately 5.5 mm (0.22 in) in diameter at maturity.

Source: npn.rngr.net