Northern hackberry

Scientific name: Celtis occidentalis

Estimated tree age: 120 years old

Also known as the nettletree, common hackberry, or simply hackberry, this tree is native to the vast majority of the Midwest as well as the Great Plains. Curiously, the usual height of the tree changes with its location – the Midwest sees the hackberry grow to 80 feet, while in the Mississippi Valley the tree can reach 130 feet. The bark of the tree is one of its distinctive traits, usually featuring a broken, scaly-looking appearance that somewhat resembles sedimentary rocks. The valleys between these broken grooves are sometimes wide enough to fit a quarter flatly between them.

Photo from Grandview Heights TreePlotter.

Unlike some of the other trees on this tour, the wood of the northern hackberry rots very easily, making it unviable for commercial use beyond occasionally fencing and cheap furniture.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

Two species of butterflies are known to only lay their eggs on the hackberry: the hackberry emperor and the tawny emperor.  As a result, these butterflies are only native to the areas where the Hackberry grows.

Photo of the hackberry emperor.

Photo credit: Melindyre (2025)

Fruit of the northern hackberry.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?