Common Hackberry vs Horse Chestnut - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Horse Chestnut

Celtis occidentalis

Aesculus hippocastanum

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Common Hackberry
Horse Chestnut

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.

Horse Chestnut is a medium sized deciduous tree that is native to Greece but has been grown in North America for hundreds of years. It produces large nuts.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Horse Chestnut Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 12 m (39 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: most parts of plant are toxic
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Berries: black, edible
Nuts: large spiky nuts
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry