Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Cannabaceae

Genus:

Celtis

Species:

Celtis occidentalis

USDA Symbol:

CEOC

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

2500 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Bloom Colors:

green

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Thin bark makes young trees susceptible, but mature trees tolerate low-intensity fire.

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

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from warm stratification (60 days) followed by cold stratification (60-90 days). Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI