| General Description | The Chinese hackberry is a deciduous, medium sized tree (rarely a shrub), which is native to China, Japan, and Korea. It is a resilient tree which grows rapidly in a variety of conditions. Chinese hackberry was introduced to other regions as an ornamental shade and street tree but has been considered a weed tree in Australia and New Zealand, due to its fast spread and competition with their native trees or shrubs. It is
generally not considered invasive in North America, but it should be checked for possible encroachment in the southern regions of the United States. |
| ID Characteristic | Orange, berry-like fruit. Leaf margin is serrated only within the upper part. Showy trunk, branches, and surface roots. |
| Shape | Irregular, round, spreading shape. |
| Landscape | Chinese hackberry's great tolerance of most conditions makes it a good candidate for street and shade trees. It is also chosen for bonsai cultivation. |
| Propagation | By seed or cuttings. For seed germination, 3 months of cold stratification at 5 °C is needed before sowing the seeds in a greenhouse. When sowing, sow the seeds 10 mm deep and mulch the seed bed. As a quicker method, cutting propagation requires dipping semi hardwood cuttings in hormones before planting them in moist soil. |
| Cultivation | Grows in full sun to partial shade. Prefers moist and fertile soils but can tolerate poor soils. After becoming established, it exhibits tolerance to drought, pollution, and wind. Appropriate pruning might be needed in its early life to avoid formation of multiple stems or weak branches. |
| Pests | Insusceptible to diseases or pests. Leaf galls are far less prevalent than those found in Celtis occidentalis. Trunk might be prone to rot after mechanical injury, which is common among hackberries. |
| Notable Specimens | Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England. Quarryhill Botanical Garden, United States. National Arboretum, United States. |
| Habitat | Thrives in a variety of habitats, including hills, lowlands, riverbanks, and roadsides. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Has smooth grey bark and grey-brown branches. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Glabrous buds, 1 - 3 mm, deep brown. |
| Leaf Description | Dark green, ovate leaves with a length of 3 to 10 cm and a width of 3 to 6 cm. Glossy in upper surface and softly hairy in lower surface. Leaf margin serrated only within the upper third or upper half. |
| Flower Description | Small green flowers are not showy and insignificant, with a size of 7 - 9 mm. |
| Fruit Description | Glabrous, dark orange, ovoid fruits. 5 - 8 mm. |
| Colour Description | Not showy yellow autumn foliage. |
| Texture Description | Medium-textured. |