Common Hackberry vs White Oak - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs White Oak

Celtis occidentalis

Quercus alba

Common Hackberry
White Oak

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.

White Oak is large, long-lived tree with an irregular trunk divided into spreading, often horizontal, stout branches. A highly adaptable tree, White Oak features green acorns and beautiful green leaves that turn red-purple in the fall.

With a huge growth in bourbon and scotch over the past few decades there is an emerging shortage of white oak that is the primary tree used for cask barrels and aging.

Note: Most Oak species can be considered toxic for many animals.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

White Oak Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 4a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 30 m (98 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: dark red
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Nuts: acorns
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none




Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry