Swedish Aspen vs Common Hackberry - TreeTime.ca

Swedish Aspen vs Common Hackberry

Populus tremula Erecta

Celtis occidentalis

Swedish Aspen
Common Hackberry

Swedish Aspen is an extremely fast growing columnar aspen tree. It's ideally suited for urban settings where space is limited such as privacy screens or along the edges of driveways. Swedish aspen produces no fluff and is less prone to suckering than tower poplar. Swedish aspen thrives in a variety of growing conditions with little maintenance or pruning.

We grow this species over a two year production method from root cuttings via the Smoky Lake Styro-Stack method (SSS method) first pioneered at Smoky Lake Forest Nursery in 2002. This method has quickly become the gold standard in the reforestation nursery industry for growing clonal aspen.

We are well known for pioneering its use worldwide and currently produce some of the highest volumes of Swedish Aspen in Canada.

The Common Hackberry is a medium-sized deciduous tree that resembles the American Elm but is immune to Dutch Elm Disease. They are versatile and can adapt to a variety of growing conditions.

It produces purple-red, berry-like fruit with a large seed in the center. Both the sweet flesh, which tastes similar to dates, and the crunchy seed are edible. The fruit remains on the tree throughout the winter, offering a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife.

The Common Hackberry can also be a great addition to a pollinator garden. The tree itself is a host for the larvae of several butterfly species and the flowers provide a source of pollen and nectar.

Swedish Aspen Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

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Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: soft reddish rust
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: high




Other Names: eurasian aspen, european aspen, swedish columnar aspen
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry