VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Hackberry wood is of medium hardness and strength, white to yellowish in
color and rather elastic [25,30]; its specific gravity is 0.49 [25].
This wood makes excellent fuel, almost equaling hickory, and is used
also in the manufacture of cheap furniture.  The technical qualities of
hackberry wood resemble those of elm (Ulmus spp.) and white ash
(Fraxinus americana), and it is sometimes used as a substitute for these
species.  Hackberry is not a commercially important tree (except as
firewood) with its low timber value, but when peeled and properly
seasoned hackberry poles serve many useful purposes.  However, the wood
is not durable when in contact with the soil [29,30].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
The fruit of hackberry, a sweet, edible drupe, is eaten by many small
birds and mammmals.  These berries persist though the winter, but most
are consumed or fall off by the spring [34].  Over 25 species of birds
feed on hackberries, including: wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant,
quail, prairie sharp-tailed grouse, lesser prairie chicken, cedar
waxwing, yellow-bellied sapsucker, mockingbird, robin, bobwhite and
others [21,23,34,41].  The fox squirrel will feed on both the fruit and
the nipple galls [21].

Deer will browse on the leaves of hackberry [34], but generally elk,
deer and antelope do not prefer hackberry over other browse species
[10].

This tree is not poisonous to livestock, but with poor palatability and
poor protein value, it is not considered to be a preferred species [10].


PALATABILITY : 
Dittberner and Olson [10] rate the palatability of hackberry as poor for
cattle, sheep and horses in Utah.

Palatability for wildlife is rated as follows [10]:

                           UT       ND
Elk                       fair     ----
Mule deer                 fair     poor
White-tailed deer         ----     good
Antelope                  poor     poor
Upland game birds         fair     ----
Waterfowl                 poor     ----
Sm nongame birds          fair     good
Sm mammals                fair     ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritional value of hackberry is relatively low for livestock, with
fair energy value and poor protein value [10].



COVER VALUE : 
Hackberry, as a member of several riparian and wooded draw communities,
provides valuable cover for wildlife and livestock, especially in the
plains regions where quality cover is often lacking.  The degree to
which this species provides environmental protection during one or more
seasons for wildlife species is as follows [10]:

                             UT     ND
Elk                         fair   ---- 
Mule deer                   good   poor 
White-tailed deer           ----   good
Antelope                    poor   poor
Upland game birds           good   ----
Waterfowl                   poor   ---
Sm nongame birds            good   fair
Sm mammals                  good   ----


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Dittberner and Olson [10] report that hackberry has fair growth on
acidic and saline soils, poor growth on sodic-saline soils, and has a
medium erosion control potential.  Although hackberry thrives better on
fertile soils than on poor ones, its ability to grow on sterile soil is
one of its best qualities.  This tree will live and bear seed in
situations where almost any other tree would die.  In more humid regions
it grows on dry, sometimes barren soil, and on the semiarid Plains, it
thrives best along water courses.  This species seems to favor limestone
soils [30].  Due to these characteristics, especially its ability to
withstand drought [3], and its growth in a wide variety of sites and
soils, [10,21], this species may be of some value in reclamation of
disturbed sites.

Field plantings by the Soil Conservation Service have resulted in
commercial production and extensive use of native trees such as
hackberry, among other species, in windbreaks and shelterbelts for
control of wind erosion [26].  In the central Great Plains, hackberry,
with a medium crown density, deep rooting habit, and high drought
resistance, is recommended for windbreak plantings on deep, moist,
permeable soils (in river and creek bottoms) and on medium upland soils
(silty or clayey loams) [33].  Since hackberry is susceptible to early
fall freezes and is frequently killed back severely by late-spring
frosts, George [15] recommends planting this tree in the second or third
row of either the windward or the leeward half of the windbreak.  For
best growth, George [14] also recommends planting hackberry under
irrigation and on dryland sites where the moisture supply is favorable.
Byrd [9] lists hackberry, among other species, as useful for planting in
impacted recreation areas where soil moisture or innundation is likely
to be excessive for several weeks at at time.

Hackberry may be propogated by layering, by cutting, and by seed [41].
Fruit should be collected after the leaves fall in September or October,
or as late as winter.  It may be handpicked, flailed or shaken from the
tree [43].  Drying the fruit is not necessary unless it is picked early
in the season.  Depulping the seeds is not essential, but it has been
shown to aid germination; fermenting the fruit for three days at room
temperature, and then depulping it prior to stratification should give
excellent results [7].  The dried fruit or cleaned seeds store equally
well in sealed containers at 41F (5C).  Hackberry seeds have been stored
in this manner for 5 1/2 years without a loss in viability.  There are
about 2050 fruits/lb or 3500 to 5400 cleaned seeds/lb [7].

Hackberry seeds may be sown untreated in the fall, or in the spring
after stratification, as the seeds do exhibit dormancy.  To break
dormancy, stratification at 41F (5C) in moist sand or other suitable
media for 60 to 90 days is sufficient [7].  Seeds may also be treated
with concentrated sulphuric acid for 1 hour, be washed in water, and be
treated an additional hour in the concentrated sulphuric acid.  This
stratification method gives 84% germination in 55 days as compared to
22% germination in 65 days after stratification at 41F (5C) for 60 days
[41].

Either fall-sown or spring-sown stratified seeds should be broadcast or
drilled in rows about 8 to 10 inches (20-25cm) apart and covered with
1/2 inch (1cm) of firmed soil.  Beds should be mulched with straw or
leaves held in place with bird screens until germination starts [7].



OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Hackberry, first cultivated in 1656 [7], has no showy flowers or
colorful fall foilage, and is therefore not often selected for
ornamental planting [4], although it is an excellent shade tree,
rivaling American elm (Ulmus americana) [30].  However, it is widely
planted in windbreaks and landscaping, mostly because of its ability to
tolerate drought [41].  Apparently a coarse thread suitable for ropes
and matting is obtained when the bark is steeped in water until the
fibers separate [17].  Also, the berries and seeds of hackberry are
eaten by many species of birds [39], making this species useful for
increasing habitat and natural food supplies for birds frequenting
residential areas.


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Although hackberry will endure drought conditions [3], this species
grows poorly under dryland conditions [14].  It is recommended that this
species be planted for windbreak and ornamental purposes under
irrigation, or on dryland sites where the moisture supply is favorable
[14].

In the northern reaches of its range, especially in the northern Great
Plains, hackberry is highly susceptible to early fall freezes and is
frequently killed back severely by late spring frosts.  It is
recommended that this species be planted on moist sites in the second or
third row of either the windward or the leeward half of the windbreak
[15].

Hackberry will also tolerate excessive soil moisture, and is therefore
recommended for planting in recreation areas where soil moisture or
innundation is likely to be excessive for several weeks at a time [9].

Related categories for Species: Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry