Common Hackberry vs Western Chokecherry - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Western Chokecherry

Celtis occidentalis

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

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Common Hackberry
Western Chokecherry

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.

Western Chokecherry is a shrub or small tree commonly used for farmstead and field windbreaks.

It produces white flowers in the spring and edible dark purple fruit that matures between September and October. Its cherries are great for making for making jams, jellies or wine, but are not very palatable for raw eating.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Western Chokecherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: low


Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)
Fall colour: reddish-purple
Berries: black, edible
Berries: edible, astringent, red-purple
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry
Other Names: bitter-berry, chokecherry, common chokecherry, virginia bird berry