Chinese Hackberry is a rapidly growing, flowering, deciduous tree in the hemp family (Cannabaceae) reaching 40 to 50 feet high and wide at maturity with a round, spreading crown. In its native Asia, it can be found on the lowlands and hills of Japan and the roadsides and slopes of China. It can be invasive in some environments and has been declared a noxious weed in parts of South Africa and Australia.The species' name is Greek for Chinese. These trees thrive in hot summers and full sun. Shading can cause underdeveloped wood leading to winter dieback. Under optimum conditions, Chinese Hackberry is very long-lived. The tree suckers, but it primarily naturalizes by seed dispersal. Plant in full sun in moist amended well-drained soil. It is a tough plant that tolerates drought, wind, urban conditions, dry, wet, and poor soils. Avoid planting along driveways, sidewalks and roads as the roots can cause damage. Avoid damaging the wood with string trimmers and other equipment as wood rot can occur. Prune while young to promote a strong growth pattern by removing multiple trunks and weak branch crotches. Insignificant flowers are followed by orange to red drupes enjoyed by wildlife. The fall leaf color is yellow-brown. This tree can be used as a shade tree but has the potential to naturalize. Consider using native hackberries instead. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: The dried fruits falling to the ground can be a litter problem. Caution should be used when planting this tree when overhead power lines are in the area. Witches’ broom (dwarfed, dense, contorted twig clusters at the branch ends) is common in some areas.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
2-5 inch long and 1-3 inch wide dark green glossy leaves are pointed with rounded to obliquely truncate bases. Undersides are paler with hairs. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Like other hackberries, the leaves have three prominent veins. The bases are a little less uneven than native species. Leaf margins are serrate except toward the base.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Inconspicuous monoecious greenish flowers bloom from the leaf axils and stem bases from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Female flowers are followed by globose drupes to 1/3 of an inch long) which have stalks about the same length as the leaf stalks. Immature fruits are green, but mature to orange before finally turning reddish-brown in fall. Each fruit contains a single seed.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Mature trees have smooth gray to gray-brown bark.
Stem detail
Gray stems in a zig-zag pattern
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia, China, Japan, and Korea
Distribution
Australia
Wildlife value
Birds are attracted to the fruits. This plant supports Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) and Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) larvae. Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary.