Celtis sinensis
Chinese hackberry
Eastern Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan)
Overview
Celtis sinensis is a deciduous tree reaching 30-65 feet (10-20 m) tall with a broad, spreading, rounded crown and smooth grey bark that becomes lightly furrowed with age. The leaves are alternate, oval to lance-shaped, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, with toothed margins on the upper two-thirds and an uneven base, mid-green turning yellow before falling. Small greenish flowers open with the new leaves in spring and are easy to overlook. The flowers are followed by round drupes about 0.3 inch (7-8 mm) across that ripen orange-brown to dark and are eaten and spread by birds. Growth is moderate to fast, and trees develop a wide canopy within 10-15 years. The species seeds heavily, and bird-spread seedlings establish readily in bushland, gardens, and waste ground. It is a declared environmental weed in parts of eastern Australia, where it invades riverbanks and forest.
Native Range
Native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, where it grows in lowland forest, on slopes, and along streams. Widely planted as a street and shade tree and naturalised as an invasive weed in eastern Australia and other warm-temperate regions.Suggested Uses
Planted in the past as a street, park, and shade tree for its broad canopy and tolerance of hard sites, spaced 25-40 feet (7.5-12 m) apart. Its weed status and heavy bird-spread seeding now restrict its use, and removal is encouraged in regions where it invades bushland. Where regulated, it is replaced with non-invasive shade trees.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 65'
Width/Spread25' - 50'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Small greenish flowers open with the new leaves in spring and are inconspicuous. Fruit develops over summer and ripens orange-brown to dark in autumn. The fruit is held on the tree into late autumn and is taken by birds.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
mid-green, yellow in autumnGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils, including poor, compacted, and dry ground, and tolerates urban conditions. Water young trees through the first two summers; established trees are drought tolerant. Trees are frost hardy once established and tolerate heat and pollution. The species self-seeds heavily, and bird-dispersed seedlings spread into surrounding land. Celtis sinensis is a declared or regulated weed in parts of New South Wales and Queensland, where its planting and movement are restricted. Borers and leaf galls can affect the foliage and stems but rarely harm tree health.Pruning
Prune in winter while dormant to lift the crown and remove dead or crossing limbs. Trees tolerate hard pruning and reshoot strongly from cut stems. Removing seedlings and suckers limits the spread of the species into surrounding ground.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter