Common Hackberry vs Treasured Red Columnar Apple - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Treasured Red Columnar Apple

Celtis occidentalis

Malus x Treasured Red Columnar

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Common Hackberry
Treasured Red Columnar 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.

Treasured Red Columnar Apple is a cold-hardy columnar variety developed by the University of Saskatchewan. The bright cherry red fruit ripens in early fall, and has a texture and flavour similar to a McIntosh apples. It stores well and is well-suited for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

Unlike traditional apple trees that bear fruit on horizontal branches, the Treasured Red produces apples on short spurs that grow along its main trunk. This unique growth habit gives the tree its narrow, compact form, making it a perfect fit for urban yards and small spaces. The columnar growth and spring blooms also give it ornamental appeal.

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

Treasured Red Columnar Apple Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Fruit: bright red with waxy bloom
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Flavor: Similar to McIntosh
Harvest: late fall to winter
Harvest: mid September
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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