Typically, hackberry leaf galls don’t damage the tree’s health. The insects feed on the leaf tissue, causing a distinctive gall to appear. To get rid of the unsightly branch clusters, you need to prune the affected branches.Ī type of plant lice called psyllids can cause hackberry nipple galls to grow on the underside of leaves. The condition causes a bush-like cluster of weak shoots to grow among branches and looks like a large bird’s nest. This problem is a combination of powdery mildew and small mites that affect the tree’s growth. Witches’ broom is a common disease that affects hackberry trees. Common Hackberry Tree ProblemsĬommon hackberry diseases are leaf galls (left) and witches’ broom (right) The corky bark covered in ridges and wart-like growths along with masses of purple berries are the tree’s most recognizable characteristics when there’s no foliage on the branches. Hackberry trees are easy to identify in the winter. In landscapes, hackberry trees are recognizable by their open, spreading crown and arching branches with drooping tips. The leaves and yellowish flower clusters grow on slender zigzag branches. The pointed, ovate leaves have toothed margins and an asymmetrical, uneven base. Look for the smooth, grayish bark that has warty growths growing on projecting ridges. Hackberry leaves and bark make it easy to identify the tree in landscapes. Hackberry fruit is ready for eating in September, and the berries persist on the tree throughout winter. The tasty edible drupes grow as globular green fruits that mature to red and then a deep purple color. Hackberry fruit is small round berry-like drupes that have a sweet taste. The common hackberry is sometimes called a false elm tree. The cork-like bark is the easiest way to tell hackberries apart from elm trees. Looking at hackberry tree leaves and American elm leaves, you will notice the leaves look the same. Hackberry trees are related to elm trees in the deciduous tree order Rosales. Both the Celtis occidentalis and Celtis laevigata share the name sugarberry-referring to the sweet drupes that ripen in the fall. Species of hackberries have common names like sugarberry, sugar hackberry, nettle tree, American hackberry, and beaverwood tree. However, most trees in the genus Celtis withstand frost. The sugarberry-or southern hackberry-grows best in zones 5 to 10. Most hackberry trees thrive in USDA zones 2 to 9. In addition, some species of hackberry, like the sugarberry ( Celtis laevigata), are common in Texas and other warm states in the south. The common hackberry ( Celtis occidentalis) is native to many states in the Midwest and Eastern areas of North America. Therefore, you will find native hackberry trees growing in most soil types, from poor to fertile ground.Īround 60 species of hackberry trees in the genus Celtis. Hackberries are recognized as being sturdy, robust trees that grow in most environments. As the tree grows, the tree develops an open, spreading canopy of arching zigzag branches that droop at the ends. The attractive landscape tree has a pyramidal crown when immature. The hackberry tree is a deciduous tree that grows 40 to 60 ft. Descriptions and pictures of hackberry leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit will help you recognize these sturdy landscape trees. This article is a guide to identifying the common types of hackberry trees. The tree’s dense, spreading foliage and rounded crown make hackberries ideal shade trees or lawn trees in garden landscapes. Low-maintenance hackberry trees are hardy trees that withstand many conditions, including drought, wet soil, strong winds, and air pollution. Hackberry ( Celtis) is a group of medium-sized, deciduous trees with long ovately-shaped leaves, clusters of small fuzzy spring flowers, and small purple fruits. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
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