Common Hackberry vs Hill Poplar - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Hill Poplar

Celtis occidentalis

Populus x Hill

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Common Hackberry
Hill Poplar

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.

Hill Poplar is a hardy, fast-growing tree with a narrow crown. Hill Poplars function well as a privacy screen or windbreak.

This attractive, long-lived shade tree is a great choice for home and commercial consumers alike, as it requires little pruning or maintenance care.

Hill Poplar has largely been replaced by more desirable hybrid poplar varieties that are more resistant to disease.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Hill Poplar Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: high


Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Seeds: fuzz
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: yes
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


In row spacing: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: MB, ON, QC
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry