Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata), also known as southern hackberry or sugarberry, is a large, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States, including Mississippi. This resilient tree is noted for its ability to thrive in diverse conditions and for its significant ecological contributions. It features a broad, rounded crown with light green leaves that turn yellow in the fall, and its bark is gray and smooth with distinctive corky warts and ridges.
Sugar Hackberry grows best in full sun to partial shade and medium-moisture, well-drained soils. It is highly adaptable, tolerating drought, urban pollution, and a variety of soil types, including both alkaline and wet soils. These characteristics make it a versatile choice for urban landscapes, parks, and naturalized settings.
The tree's small, sweet fruits, known as drupes, are highly favored by birds and small mammals. It serves as a host plant for several butterfly species, including the hackberry emperor and American snout, and its dense canopy provides excellent nesting sites and cover for birds. The foliage supports caterpillars and other beneficial insects, adding to its ecological value.
In landscape design, Sugar Hackberry is appreciated for its toughness and minimal maintenance requirements. It is effective as a shade tree, in naturalistic plantings, or as part of a mixed woodland border. Its resilience and ability to support wildlife make it an asset to any garden or urban area, particularly in regions like the southeastern United States.