Desert Hackberry
Celtis pallida
Family: Cannabaceae
Evergreen shrub or small tree, to almost 20 feet—usually a shrub in dry locations but becomes a tree on irrigation and in favorable conditions. Flowers in March to May with inconspicuous flowers. Flowers are followed by sweet, one-seeded, orange fruits.
Full to even reflective heat. Plants can take some shade too but look best in full sun. Moderate to low water when established. Ensure good drainage. Hardy to at least 15°F.
Fruits are edible to people, eaten raw or cooked into preserves. Wood is used for fuel and fence posts.
Common along washes and on rocky and gravelly slopes, occasionally dominates bajadas, grows in Sonoran desertscrub and semidesert grassland from 1,500-4,000 ft. in Arizona, Texas (skipping New Mexico) and scattered throughout Mexico continuing as far south as central Argentina.
Flowers in March to May with nectar-rich flowers that are pollinated primarily by bees. This plant attracts many, many insects which attracts canopy-gleaning birds. Important habitat tree, fruit for birds and other animals, nectar rich flower for many insects. Larval host for the following butterflies:
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis ssp. antonia)
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)
Texan Emperor (Asterocampa clyton ssp. texana)
Dusky Emperor (Asterocampa idyja ssp. argus)
Silver Emperor (Doxocopa laure ssp. laure)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
This species is in the Cannabaceae, the hemp family. There are 73 species of Celtis with cosmopolitan distribution.
Also known as Celtis ehrenbergiana.
Celtis is a Greek name for the old world hackberry trees. The species name pallida means pale—perhaps in reference to the lighter-colored fruits compared to the canyon hackberry.