Common Hackberry vs Silver Leaf Willow - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Silver Leaf Willow

Celtis occidentalis

Salix alba sericea

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Common Hackberry
Silver Leaf Willow

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.

Native to North America, Silver Leaf Willow has orangish bark and long, silvery grey leaves. Bees and other insects are attracted to its flowers.

Popular as an ornamental tree for parks, it is also used as a shelterbelt species. It may not be as cold hardy as some of the other willow varieties, however.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Silver Leaf Willow Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 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: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: high


Foliage: narrow-glossy
Fall colour: pale yellow
Bark: yellow-brown
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


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