The Society of Municipal Arborists has named the hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) as its 2020 Urban Tree of the Year.
The native hackberry, one of the toughest trees around, has a wide range from New England through the mid-Atlantic and west to Wyoming. It's tolerant of both heat and cold, happy in USDA Zones 2-9. James Kaechele, New York Tree Trust Development Director at NYC Parks, says "This fine native tree is an underestimated contributor to many an urban forest."
The hackberry commonly has a height of 40 to 60 feet, although in exceptional conditions it may grow as high as 100 feet. The tree has an elm-like branching structure, which may be why it was previously classified under Ulmaceae. Taxonomists reclassified hackberry into the hemp family, Cannabaceae, in 2009, and most major arboreta have accepted the reclasification.
Hackberry has a notable ridged bark, and it's a home for many native creatures. Songbirds love the small blue drupes that appear in fall, and the elm-like leaves support many gall-producing insects. Although the galls can be ugly, they do not affect the health of the tree. The tree can also produce witches' brooms.
Hackberry is often used as a shade tree, as a windbreak, and in polluted urban areas.
Cultivars include 'Chicagoland', which has an upright form and a single, straight leader; 'Prairie Pride', with a more compact form and no witches' brooms; and 'Prairie Sentinel', just 45 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
Past winners of the SMA award may be found here.
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