Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, Tree Seeds

Hardy, Adaptable, Easy to Grow, Fast Growth, Bonsai, Edible Fruit, Fall Color, Attracts Birds and Butterflies, Wildlife Food/Shelter, Shade Tree, Street Tree, Cold, Heat, Drought, Salt, Urban and Wind Tolerant

Native to North America the Hackberry is a deciduous tree that grows 40 to 60 feet tall with upright, arching branches and a rounded crown. Mature gray bark has corky ridges and warty texture with trunk diameters from 1 to 3 feet. The leaves are glossy to dull green, ovate to oblong-ovate and 2 to 5 inches long. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. The green, monoecious flowers are small and inconspicuous, blooming in spring with male flowers in clusters and female flowers solitary. Female flowers are followed by small, edible, round drupes that mature to a deep purple. The fruit is somewhat sweet and contains one seed. The fruit attracts birds and other wildlife. The Hackberry is a fast growing, superior shade tree that withstands heat, drought, wind, urban conditions and alkaline soils. It is among the best food and shelter plants for wildlife.

Native Americans made cakes by pulverizing the entire fruit, including the seed, making a nutritious food that could be stored. They used the dried fruit as a spice and used Hackberry extracts medicinally, for sore throats, colds, regulation of menstrual periods.

The wood, heavy but soft and is of limited commercial importance. It is used in inexpensive furniture where a light-colored wood is desired. Good grades of Hackberry wood are used for furniture, millwork, and some athletic equipment. Poor grades are used for crates and boxes.

Leaf: Alternate, simple, ovate, 2 to 5 inches long, serrated margin, pinnately veined, with acuminate tip and an inequilateral base, three distinct veins originate from base, maybe hairy or scruffy, green above and paler and somewhat pubescent below.
Flower: Monoecious; very small (1/8 inch), light green, produced on stalks from new leaf axils. Each flower with a 4 or 5 lobed calyx, appearing in spring. Attracts butterflies.
Fruit: Round drupe, 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter, turning orange-red to dark purple when ripe, flesh is thin and quite dry but edible and sweet, enclosing a large pit, maturing in early fall. Attracts birds and other wildlife.
Twig: Slender, zigzag, light red-brown with numerous lighter lenticels; terminal bud is lacking, but a pseudoterminal bud is present. Lateral buds are small, tan, triangular, and appressed, pith is often chambered at the nodes.
Bark: Smooth and gray-brown when young, soon developing corky, individual "warts" which later develop into rough corky, irregular ridges.
Form: Medium to large Deciduous tree reaching up to 60 feet tall with a wide spreading crown. 

Other Names: Common Hackberry, Sugarberry, Beaverwood, American Hackberry.

Zone: 2 to 9

Growth Rate: Fast

Plant Type: Medium to Large Deciduous Tree

Family: Ulmaceae (Elm Family)

Native Range: North America
Height: 40 to 60 feet
Spread: 40 to 60 feet
Shape: Rounded spreading crown

Bloom Time: April-May

Bloom Color: Green

Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade

Fall Color: Yellow

Drought Tolerance: High

Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances: Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun but will tolerate part shade, wind, urban pollutants and poor soil conditions, including wet or dry.

Culture: Easy to transplant.

Uses: Bonsai. Shade, lawn, street or park tree. Good choice for poor conditions. Screen/Windbreak. For edible fruit.

Sowing Celtis occidentalis Seeds:

For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.

Scarify: Soak in water 24 Hours

Stratify: Cold 60-90 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not wet).

Germination: Sow 1/4” Deep, Keep moist (Not wet).

For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please try the following link:

https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf

Germination:

1. Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details.
2. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing.
3. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing.
4. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes.
5. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process.

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International Buyer’s:

It is the buyer’s responsibility to know their countries customs laws.

1. Plant and plant materials including seeds may be restricted from importing to your country. Please check with your customs agency and or post office before purchasing. Upon purchasing this item Buyer accepts the risk of item being confiscated and/or destroyed by customs and Seller will not be held liable for this.
2. If you are on my exclusion list it is because: “Plant and plant materials including seeds” are restricted from importing to your country, it is enforced by your country and there is a high rate of customs checking for this.
3. Import duties, taxes, and customs charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying.
4. Tracking is not available for International items. International mail varies from 10 to 30 business days (postal working days) and some countries require certain International items to be picked up at your post office. Upon processing your order, you will be sent a customs number, your shipping date and your shipping address, which you will need in order to retrieve it from your post office if you are required to do so. If these are not picked up in a reasonable time they may be returned or discarded.
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