Hackberrys

Tree Stories -- Common Hackberry
by Margaret Canavan

I’m going out on a limb here, so to speak. This month’s tree is often unfairly called a “trash tree”: the common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). When Ike blew down our huge Oak, the tree that volunteered to provide shade was a Hackberry on my neighbor’s side of the fence that had ignored the saltwater inundation. So before you dismiss this tree, bear with me to learn of its many fine qualities.

Hackberry is a native to most of North America. It is similar in many respects to its relative, the American elm. Both these bottomland trees tolerate diverse soil conditions but Hackberry tolerates a greater range of environmental conditions and can persist despite drought, pollution and wind.

This large tree typically reaches 30-50 feet tall, with a broad canopy, and thus needs plenty of space. It is adaptable to a wide range of light and moisture levels, easy to transplant, and grows rapidly. When allowed to grow naturally it develops an attractive vase-shaped form, with rough papery leaves and delightful light gray warty bark. The purple pea-sized fruit produced in fall allegedly tastes like a date (although I have never tasted one) and it is mostly pit. This deciduous tree gives us shade in summer and sun in winter. Go to the Texas Big Tree Registry for the dimensions of the Texas Champion Common Hackberry.

Hackberries give sustenance to numerous wild critters. Butterfly enthusiasts know it takes caterpillars to create butterflies, and Hackberries provide many species with excellent food. Butterflies you may see include Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, American Snout, Question Mark, and Mourning Cloak.

Folks who enjoy bird watching probably know that among those that appreciate the fruits are cedar waxwings, mockingbirds, American robins, bluebirds, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. The fruit persists well into winter and is popular with small mammals as well. The tree provides good cover and nesting habitat. Birds love the caterpillars of the above-mentioned butterflies.

As they have with most native plants, humans have found multiple uses for the Hackberry. Native Americans valued it for medicinal, food, and ceremonial purposes. Bark was made into tea to treat numerous diseases and conditions, fruits were used for food and flavoring, and wood was the traditional fuel source for altar fires at peyote ceremonies.

Hackberries are often planted to control wind erosion, and the deep root system makes it useful for preventing soil erosion on disturbed sites. It is used ornamentally as a street tree because of its ability to withstand drought and tolerate urban environments. Common Hackberry is also a bonsai species. Hackberry wood is most commonly used as firewood but is sometimes used to produce inexpensive furniture, with wood quality similar to that of elm and white ash.

So what’s not to like about the Hackberry? Sure, it often pops up where not expected or wanted. But it is drought-and heat tolerant and easy to grow, grows rapidly and feeds butterflies, birds and other animals. You might have one growing right now in a corner of your yard or along a fenceline. If there is room for it, let it be and it will provide you with shade and wildlife visitors.

Hurricane Ike caused the loss of 40,000 trees on Galveston Island. The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy was formed to address that loss and to date has replaced almost 14,000 through grant-funded plantings and giveaways, with more planned.

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“Tree Stories” is an ongoing series of articles about island trees, tree care and tree issues. If you have or know of a special tree on Galveston Island that should be highlighted, email treesforgalveston@gmail.com. Margaret Canavan is a Galveston resident, a Galveston County Master Gardener, and a member of the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy Board.