Common Hackberry vs Green Ash - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Celtis occidentalis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Green Ash
Common Hackberry

Green ash is a fast growing tree with incredible golden yellow leaves in fall. This tree is native to the prairies and is well suited for drought and cold. Green ash can also tolerate soil compaction, periods of flooding and a wide variety of soils including alkaline. This makes green ash ideally suited for use in urban environments.

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.

Green Ash Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2b
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: high


Fall colour: bright yellow in early fall
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Seeds: seeds located within samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: downy ash, red ash, swamp ash, water ash
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry