Common Hackberry vs Sour Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Sour Cherry

Prunus cerasus

Celtis occidentalis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Sour Cherry
Common Hackberry

Sour Cherry is a self-fertile and cold hardy cherry tree. Not to be confused with sweet cherries, sour cherries are the only cherries that are successfully grown in prairie climates.

Sour Cherry is ideal for cooking, preserves, or for making juices and jams, while sweet cherries are preferred for fresh eating. While we can't confirm claims of sour cherries medical benefits, studies have shown that sour cherries contain anti-inflammatory properties and can help regulate sleep patterns.

Sour Cherry flowers emerge in April-May with fruit ripening in June-July. This variety prefers well-drained soil and does not like any standing water. If you're looking to create an inexpensive edible hedge, consider Sour Cherry.

This Sour Cherry is produced from seed and is not a clonally reproduced selection like the Evans, Rose, or Montmorency.

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.

Sour Cherry Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2b
Height: 5 m (16 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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