Short Description
The common hackberry is deciduous with a wide, irregular crown and slightly overhanging branches. It can grow up to 25 m tall.
The leaves grow alternately on the branch. They are lance-shaped to oval with a serrated margin. The asymmetric leaf base is characteristic.
The bark is brown-grey, rough and deeply furrowed.
The flowers are inconspicuously greenish in colour.
The tree bears spherical stone fruits, varying from orange to purple depending on ripeness.
Features
Common hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
asymmetric leaf base
spherical stone fruit
In the city
Common hackberry trees are frequently found in parks and gardens. They prefer sunny to semi-shaded sites.
Fun Facts
It is pollinated by the wind and the seeds are dispersed by birds.
It fruits in June to August.
Hackberries are edible and have a sweetish taste.
It flowers in May.
- Endangerment level Germany: not evaluated
The common hackberry originates from North America. It is a non-native plant (neophyte).
Sources
Blatt, Alice Kracht, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://offene-naturfuehrer.de/web/Datei:Celtis_occidentalis.JPG
Frucht, Jozefsu, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hackberry_(Celtis_occidentalis)_ripe_berries.jpg
_ripe_berries.jpg){kind=link}
Blüte, Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Celtis-occidentalis-flower.jpg
Böhlmann, D. (2015) Laubbäume temperierter Klimate mit ihrer Artenvielfalt, Berlin: Patzer Verlag.
Mitchell, A. (1975) Die Wald- und Parkbäume Europas. Ein Bestimmungsbuch, Hamburg und Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey.
Page „Amerikanischer Zürgelbaum“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 04.10.2015, 08:03 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amerikanischer_Z%C3%BCrgelbaum&oldid=146663364 (Accessed: 03.05.2016).