Celtis reticulata
netleaf hackberry
Western and central United States and northern Mexico
Overview
Celtis reticulata is a deciduous tree in the hemp family, typically 20-40 feet (6-12 m) tall with a broad, irregular crown and often a short, gnarled trunk. The leaves are oval with a pointed tip and uneven base, 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long, thick and rough to the touch, with a coarse network of raised veins on the underside that gives the plant its common name. The bark is gray and develops corky warts and ridges with age. Small greenish flowers open with the leaves in spring and are easy to overlook. They are followed by round, orange-red to dark-red drupes about 0.25 inch (6 mm) wide that ripen in fall, each holding a single hard seed and remaining on the tree into winter. Birds and mammals eat the sweetish fruit and spread the seed. It grows along streams, washes, canyon bottoms, and rocky slopes across the western and central United States and into Mexico, tolerating heat, drought, and poor soils. The leaves are often marked by harmless nipple-gall and powdery mildew, which can make the foliage look ragged late in the season.
Native Range
Native to the western and central United States and northern Mexico, from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains to the Southwest. It grows along streams, washes, canyon bottoms, rocky slopes, and bluffs in dry to seasonally moist sites.Suggested Uses
Used as a drought-tolerant shade and street tree in hot, dry regions, in wildlife and riparian plantings, and for erosion control along washes and slopes. Its toughness suits parking lots, rural windbreaks, and naturalized areas where a durable native tree is needed.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 40'
Width/Spread20' - 40'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring as the leaves emerge, with small greenish flowers that are easy to miss. Round orange-red to dark-red fruits ripen in late summer and fall and hold on the branches into winter. The fruit draws birds and other wildlife through the cold months.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Celtis reticulata grows in full sun in a wide range of soils, including rocky, sandy, and alkaline ground, and tolerates heat, drought, and seasonal flooding. It is slow to moderate in growth and long-lived, needing little water once established. It tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 8.5 and adapts to compacted urban soils. Deep, infrequent watering in the first few years helps the root system develop. The wood is somewhat brittle and can drop small branches in storms. Leaf galls and powdery mildew affect the foliage but do little lasting harm to the tree.Pruning
Pruning in late winter to remove dead, crossing, or weak branches improves the structure of the often-irregular crown. Training to a single leader in the early years reduces narrow, weak forks. The tree tolerates hard pruning and resprouts readily.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
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D
winter