Common Hackberry vs Laurel Leaf Willow - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Laurel Leaf Willow

Celtis occidentalis

Salix pentandra

Common Hackberry
Laurel Leaf Willow

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.

Laurel Leaf Willow is a round-shaped tree with attractive dark green leaves.

This cold hardy tree can withstand bitter winters and still put on lots of growth every summer. Laurel Leaf Willow prefers moist to wet ground and full sun, though it can tolerate partial shade too. This species is also known as one of the more salt-tolerant species for those with saline soils.

All willow are important to native pollinators each spring as they have higher amounts of pollen and nectar early each growing season when other food sources are scarce.

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Laurel Leaf Willow Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 2b
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


In row spacing: 2.4 - 3 m (8 - 10 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry
Other Names: bay willow, bay-leaf willow, laurel willow