Common Hackberry vs Eastern Cottonwood - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Eastern Cottonwood

Celtis occidentalis

Populus deltoides

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Common Hackberry
Eastern Cottonwood

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.

This fast and tall growing tree has an open, spreading crown and is more suited to waterside planting than other aspens and poplars.

Commonly found in floodplains, stream valleys and lake shores, this tree quickly fills in reclamation areas.

In order to reproduce and grow effectively, Eastern Cottonwood relies on the natural flooding cycle to ensure they are not out-competed by weeds and other plants.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Eastern Cottonwood Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 23 m (75 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 14 m (45 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


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