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Celtis laevigata

Phonetic Spelling
SEL-tis lee-vih-GAY-tuh
Description

Sugarberry is a deciduous tree native to North America and is found in the coastal and eastern Piedmont areas of NC often along stream banks. It can grow 50-70 feet tall with a somewhat narrower spread. It is fast growing with a rounded vase crown and makes a good shade tree as it is resistant to urban pollution. The fruits mature to red or purple and are eaten by many birds and mammals. In zones 8 and under, it can have attractive yellow fall color. The unusual warty bark and fruits provide some winter interest.

The tree prefers a sandy to clay loam that is moist and well-drained in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate salt, acid to mildly alkaline pHs, periodic flooding and drought once established. It is tolerant of soil compaction making it useful in parking lot islands and medians in addition to using as a shade tree for your home or naturalized area.

Celtis laevigata can be pruned and kept at shrub size by cutting them to the ground every 2-3 years.  It is fairly resistant to witches' broom.

In the butterfly garden, it is a food source for a variety of butterfly larvae including American snout (Libytheana carinenta)Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis)Tawny emperor (Asterocampa clyton) and Question mark (Polygonia interrogationis).  It also is a host plant for moth larvae such as Ruddy dagger (Acronicta rubricoma)Thin-lined owlet (Isogona tenuis), and Small heterocampa (Rifargia subrotata).

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Watch for Asian wooly hackberry aphid and scale.  hackberry nipple gall is common and while it disfigures the leaves it does not hurt these trees. Powdery mildew and leaf spot may occur. Scales of various types may be found on Hackberry. These may be managed with horticultural oil sprays.

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#salt tolerant#street tree#showy fruits#small mammals#fire low flammability#NC native#buffer#nighttime garden#children's garden#playground plant#mourning cloak butterflies#edible fruits#screening#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Audubon#american snout butterfly#tawny emperor butterfly#question mark butterfly#hackberry emperor butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#native tree#moth caterpillar host#salt tolerant#street tree#showy fruits#small mammals#fire low flammability#NC native#buffer#nighttime garden#children's garden#playground plant#mourning cloak butterflies#edible fruits#screening#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Audubon#american snout butterfly#tawny emperor butterfly#question mark butterfly#hackberry emperor butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Celtis
    Species:
    laevigata
    Family:
    Cannabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Native Americans were known to have used this tree for food, medicines, tools, and fuel. The Houma used a concentrate made from the bark to treat sore throats and decoction make from the bark ground up shells to treat venereal diseases, the berries were consumed by Native Americans, the Navajo boiled leaves and branches to make dark brown and red dye for wool
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central & SE. U.S.A. to Mexico, Bermuda
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , DC , FL , GA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , NV , OK , OR , SC , TN , TX , UT , VA , WA , WV , WY
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This is a larval host plant for several butterflies including American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Many bird species and small mammals eat the fruit.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Edible fruit
    Screening
    Shade
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Dimensions:
    Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Drupes mature to deep purple with one round brown seed within. Fleshy parts of the fruit are edible and sweet. Displays from August to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Insignificant, mostly monoecious, greenish flowers appear in spring (April–May), with male flowers in clusters and female flowers solitary.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are ovate to oblong-lanceolate, rough-textured, untoothed, glossy to dull green leaves (2-4” long) have mostly uneven leaf bases. They have an undistinguished yellow fall color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is smooth between raised, corky warts.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Brown to green thin twigs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Deer
    Fire
    Poor Soil
    Salt
    Urban Conditions
    Wind
    Problems:
    Messy