Common Hackberry
333 Saskatchewan Cres. West
This Common Hackberry Celtis occidentalis is a member of the elm family rarely seen in Saskatoon. It has become a popular alternative to the American Elm in communities where the once ubiquitous American Elm has been wiped out by Dutch Elm Disease. The hackberry is immune to that disease, and is well suited to urban environments because it is hardy and adaptable to a wide range of conditions. However, it seems to grow very slowly in our region, which is probably why few have been planted in Saskatoon. Hackberry is native to the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Forest Region of eastern Canada and the south shore of Lake Manitoba. In the US it occurs from the northeastern states to the Great Plains. The Common Hackberry is easily distinguished from Elms by its cork-like bark with wart-like protuberances. The sweet, nutritious fruits of the Hackberry are eaten by small mammals and birds. The wood is heavy but soft, and has little commercial value.
Alternate location: 32 Clark Cres.