Common Hackberry vs Norkent Apple - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Norkent Apple

Celtis occidentalis

Malus x Norkent

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Common Hackberry
Norkent Apple

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.

Norkent Apple produces fruit that is desirable for fresh eating. The apples most closely resemble Golden Delicious in appearance and taste. Our stock is grafted onto rootstock for better planting. If you want a great prairie hardy apple for eating, cooking, juicing or making cider, this is the variety for you.

For fruit production, cross-pollination is required. Apples need to be planted with another Apple or Crab Apple variety.

Note: We do not ship grafted apples to BC due to regulatory restrictions from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Norkent Apple Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2b
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: ranging from white to pink
Fruit: medium sized apples light green with orange, yellow, or red streaks juicy, crisp, aromatic
Berries: black, edible
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
Other Names: pf51