Celtis

Ulmaceae
Deciduous, Trees

 

Related to elms (Ulmus) and similar to them in most details, but smaller. All have virtue of deep rooting; old trees in narrow planting strips expand in trunk diameter to nearly fill strips without producing surface roots or heaving sidewalk or curb. Good choice for street or lawn tree, even near buildings or paving. Canopy casts moderate shade in spring and summer; leaves turn yellow in fall. Mature trees have picturesque bark with corky warts and ridges. Small berrylike fruits attract birds.

Hackberry is exceptionally tough, tolerating strong winds (stake young trees until well established), desert heat, and dry, alkaline soils. Leaf gall caused by psyllids may disfigure hackberry leaves in some regions (especially in the Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest), but the trees are not harmed. Little pruning required. Bare-root plants, especially in larger sizes, sometimes fail to leaf out.

 

Celtis occidentalis

Native to eastern North America. To 50 ft. or taller and nearly as wide, with rounded crown and spreading, sometimes pendulous branches. Bright green, oval leaves, 2–5 in. long, with finely toothed edges. Tree does not leaf out until midspring. Resistant to oak root fungus.

Celtis pallida

Native to southwestern U.S.and northern Mexico. Smalltree or shrub with dense, spinygrowth to 18 ft. tall; variable inwidth, sometimes growing widerthan tall. Small orange berries.Useful in desert as honeysource or bird food, for screenor barrier planting, for erosioncontrol.

Celtis reticulata

Native to eastern Washington, northern Oregon, Idaho, through intermountain area to Utah, and in mountains of Arizona and Southern California. To 25–30 ft. tall and wide, with somewhat pendulous branches. Oval, tooth-edged leaves to 2 1/2 in. long, pale beneath, strongly veined.