The Hackberry is a large tree, similar to the Elm and grows 50 to 60 feet tall. Because of its’ vase-shape and rounded crown, the Hackberry makes an excellent ornamental tree for both street and landscape use. It’s often used as a shade tree in urban environments due to its size and stress tolerance. The Hackberry is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, which makes it a highly adaptable tree.
The Hackberry is also adaptable to a variety of growing conditions. It will tolerate dry to moderately moist sites, in addition to the wet lowlands. Keep in mind tree growth is faster on wetter sites. The Hackberry is also not particular to soil type or pH and is able to handle environmental salt. While it is shade tolerant, the Hackberry performs best in full sun. The Hackberry is hardy in USDA zones 2-9 and is often used as a windbreak on the Great Plains and elsewhere. This makes it ideal for use in the Chicago area and surrounding communities.
The Hackberry possesses many desirable characteristics. It’s easy to identify because of the uniquely unequal leaf bases and rough warty bark. The leaves are alternate, simple and 2 to 5 inches long with a sharply tapering tip. They are lustrous to dull green on top of the leaf, with a fine network of veins below. The twigs are slender and appear to zigzag throughout the tree. The twigs are light brown in color and have prominent lenticels. The tree fruit is a dark purple drupe (berry) and is eaten by several bird species. The Hackberry is considered a softer wood, comparable to Elm or White Ash trees and is not particularly valued for commercial purposes. It’s most often used as firewood and for inexpensive furniture construction.
The Hackberry is generally resistant to most insects and diseases, but occasionally is affected by two minor pests. The Hackberry Nipple Gall is a small insect that causes nipple shaped leaf outgrowths. The second pest is the Hackberry Witches Broom which is a gall mite that causes a proliferation of twig growth from common branch growing points. Neither pest is harmful to the tree and causes only minor damage.
The Hackberry is available in most local nurseries , but is considered a “spring plant only” tree, due to its’ particular physiology. Several improved cultivars are also becoming available at many nurseries, both from the USDA Plant Materials Program and commercial sources. Some outstanding cultivars include: ‘Oahe’, ‘Chicagoland’ and ‘Prairie Pride’. These cultivars were selected for their improved plant shape, straighter trunks, drought resistance, salt tolerance and adaptation to compacted soils. The Hackberry tree is definitely a tough, adaptable performer and should always be included in our “diversified urban tree species list” for planting.
Harold Hoover Kramer Tree Specialists Board Certified Master Arborist IL-1478BLeave a comment describing your experience with the Hackberry tree!