Common Hackberry vs Witch Hazel - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Celtis occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Witch Hazel
Common Hackberry

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with a short trunk, bearing numerous spreading, crooked branches.

The seeds grow in a long, wooden pod with two to four seeds per pod. Upon ripening, the pods burst, firing the seeds up to 30km an hour.

The leaf and bark extract of Witch Hazel has been used as a remedy to common ailments such as inflammation, bruises and much more for many centuries.

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.

Witch Hazel Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 2b
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Light: any
Light: full sun
Moisture: wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: high


Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Seeds: seeds ejected to a distance of up to 30 ft
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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