NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Celtis laevigata

Southern Hackberry, Sugarberry

Scientific Name:	Celtis laevigata
Genus:	Celtis
Species Epithet:	laevigata
Common Name:	Southern Hackberry, Sugarberry
Plant Type	Tree
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Cannabaceae (Hops Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	36-72 ft., 72-100 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Green
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist
Bloom Time:	April, May
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Bottomland forests, especially on natural levees, upland calcareous forests and woodlands, shell middens. Uncommon in NC mountains, common in piedmont and coastal plain.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Not Recommended for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Sometimes placed in the Elm family (Ulmaceae).
Green (not ripe) fruit Forsyth Co., NC Lisa Lofland Gould
Corky, irregularly patterned bark Davie Co., NC Lisa Lofland Gould
Close-up of bark ridges. Mecklenburg_Co., NC Larry Mellichamp
The leaves are alternate, lanceolate with a tapering tip, and have slightly serrated margins. The leaves subtending the fruits have margins that are entire or with only 1-2 teeth on one side only. The leaves of C.occidentalis are more ovate in shape. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php https://nc.audubon.org/700 https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/celtis-laevigata/