Common Hackberry vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Black Hawthorn

Celtis occidentalis

Crataegus douglasii

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Common Hackberry
Black Hawthorn

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.

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: white
Berries: black, edible
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC
Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple