Common Hackberry vs Basswood (American Linden) - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Basswood (American Linden)

Tilia americana

Celtis occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Basswood (American Linden)
Common Hackberry

Basswood, also known as American Linden, provides shade and fragrant flowers with characteristically attractive leaves and branching.

It typically has a large uniformly round crown with a straight branch free trunk.

Basswood is typically found along streams and lakes or at the bottom of slopes where the ground is moist.

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.

Basswood (American Linden) Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2b
Height: 33 m (110 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: high


Foliage: thick, heart shaped leaves
Flowers: mid-June to mid-july creamy yellow, fragant
Fruit: many, nutlike
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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