What soil does Common hackberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Common hackberry hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Common hackberry toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Common hackberry be planted?

Plant it at least 10.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 3 m from paving.

How much water does Common hackberry need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. It may be planted in a garden, but it is on the Hungarian list of invasive species: it may not be planted on public ground and can escape from gardens, so plant it only with care, away from natural habitats.

Illustration of Common hackberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A large, broad-crowned deciduous tree from North America that ends up 15 to 25 metres tall and nearly as wide. It is sold, and was planted widely as a street tree, because it is almost indestructible: it copes with drought, heat, polluted city air, paving and limy soil, and it turns lemon yellow in autumn. That same toughness is the problem: birds carry its small fruits everywhere, seedlings come up all over the place, and it is officially an invasive species, so we do not recommend it for gardens.

Fine in a garden, but it can escape

It is on the Hungarian list of invasive plants: it may not be planted on public ground, but it may in a private garden. Do not plant it near natural habitats, woodland or water, keep its fruit and clippings inside the garden, and pull out the seedlings and suckers that come up. The garden planner does not put it into a plan on its own, but it goes in if you ask for it by name.

Watch out for

Officially an invasive woody plant. Every year it bears masses of pea-sized stone fruits that birds and small mammals eat and carry off, so its seedlings come up in great numbers in hedges, along fences, in beds, in cracks in paving, in the neighbours' gardens and in nearby woods. It escapes around planted trees, in places forms dense stands, and its deep shade stops other tree species from regenerating from seed. Anyone gardening near such a tree has to weed out seedlings year after year, ideally while they are still tiny. Hungarian Government Decree 282/2024 (IX. 30.) names it in Annex 2 among the invasive woody plants, so it may not be planted, or used as a replacement, on public-use land; the decree does not ban it in private gardens. Other problems: fallen fruit and leaves make a mess on pavements and terraces; with age it can form thick surface roots that may lift paving; the wood is rather soft and branches can break in storms, so it needs formative pruning when young. The pollen of its wind-pollinated flowers is moderately allergenic. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, scale insects and lace bugs can occur but rarely do serious harm.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 7 m × 5 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, green

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	7 m × 5 m
Ultimate size	12–25 m × 10–18 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, green
Harvest	September–October
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 10.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 3 m
Litter	Fruit, Leaves
Planting distance	1000 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made