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Scientific name: Celtis reticulata Torr.
Alternate Names: Western Hackberry, Sugarberry, Paloblanco
Description: A small native tree or large shrub growing to 30 feet with spreading crown and trunk
diameter of 1 foot or more. Usually found along streams, canyons, and washes, in moist soil, plains grassland,
upper desert, desert grassland, and woodland zones. Excellent for riparian restoration.
Leaves: The slightly heart-shaped, rough, dark green leaves have a noticeably lopsided shape.
Where the leaf connects to the stem, one side of the leaf is often larger than the other. Leaves are alternate,
the margins smooth, occasionally toothed near the base, 1 to 2 1/2 inches long and strongly veined. Leaves
turn yellow in autumn.
Flowers: Inconspicuous, small, greenish flowers appear in March and April.
Fruits: Orange red, sweet, edible `cherries' (drupes) about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter, contain
one seed. Birds seek out these drupes to eat.
Height: 25 to 30 feet & nearly as wide
Elevation: Less than 7500 feet
Zones: 3 to 10
Water Requirements: 18 inches precipitation equivalent.
Habitat: This hackberry is mostly confined to areas with a constant water supply, such as moist
soils along streams. Or needs supplemental water in other areas.
Uses: Windbreaks, landscapes, wildlife habitat & food, used as fuel and fence posts.
Advantages: When established, hackberry will perform admirably in urban conditions, desert heat,
drought, strong winds, and dry, alkaline soils. They also have the virtue of deep roots that won't crack
nearby pavement and won't prevent you from growing lawn beneath them.
Management & Care: Resistant to oak root fungus. Only pest problems of note seem to be occasional
aphid attack and swollen leaf galls caused by insects. Witches broom (an occasional profusion of twigs near
the ends of branches) does not debilitate or harm the tree.
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