Fauna
Plant

Common Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Also known as Northern Hackberry, American Hackberry, Nettletree, Beaverwood

Common hackberries feature unmistakable light grey bark covered in prominent, corky, wart-like ridges. Their asymmetric, coarsely toothed leaves support the larvae of several specialized butterflies, including the hackberry emperor and tawny emperor. Small reddish-purple drupes mature in autumn, providing a critical winter food source for resident and migratory birds.

TreeDeciduousNative
Common Hackberry reference1 / 7
(c) Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic
Predators
  • Hackberry Nipplegall Psyllid
  • Hackberry Emperor Caterpillars
  • White-Tailed Deer
ThreatsWitches'-broom disease, timber clearing, urban soil compaction
HabitatsFloodplains, riverbanks, rich bottomland forests, rocky limestone slopes
Life span150–200 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyCannabaceae
  3. GenusCeltis
  4. SpeciesCeltis occidentalis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Bark Identification: Look for distinctive, rough, corky ridges that resemble miniature mountain ranges.
  • Leaf Check: Examine leaf bases, which are uniquely unequal or lopsided on each side of the stem.
  • Wildlife Viewing: Watch for hackberry emperor butterflies basking on the grey trunk in midsummer.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…