Celtis laevigata
Celtis laevigata · Cannabaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around celtis laevigata and prepare for winter.
ID card
- English name
- Smooth Hackberry
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- Spring (discreet flowers)
- Adult size
- 50 to 82 feet tall
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to 5°F
- Origin
- North America (southeastern United States)
- Soil type
- Adaptable, prefers well-drained soils
Care
Sunlight
Smooth Hackberry appreciates full sun or partial shade exposure. It tolerates sunny locations well and develops vigorously under these conditions. Avoid constantly shaded areas that would slow its growth.
Watering
Once established, this tree is drought-tolerant and requires only moderate watering. During the first two years following planting, keep the soil regularly moist. Reduce watering in winter when the tree is dormant.
Soil
Smooth Hackberry adapts to many soil types, from chalky soils to slightly acidic soils. Well-drained soil is recommended to prevent waterlogging. Improve poor soil with organic matter added at planting time.
Pruning
Light pruning is generally sufficient to maintain a nice shape. Intervene in late winter or early spring before growth resumes. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to promote crown aeration.
Fertilizing
Balanced fertilizer applied in spring is enough for this undemanding tree. Enrich the soil with well-decomposed compost at planting time. No special needs in routine maintenance once the tree is well established.
Diseases and pests
Smooth Hackberry is generally very hardy and resistant to common diseases. Watch for leaf insects in case of prolonged water stress. Good drainage prevents most fungal problems.
Did you know?
Smooth Hackberry produces small purple drupes that nourish local wildlife and persist long on the tree. This North American tree was used by indigenous peoples for its hard wood and traditional medicinal properties, making it a true botanical heritage of the continent.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- HopHumulus lupulus
- Nettle treeCeltis australis
- HackberryCeltis occidentalis
- HempCannabis sativa
- Trema micranthumTrema micranthum
- Japanese hopHumulus scandens
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.