General Information:
Status in Florida: Native
Size at Maturity: Typically grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide
Phenology: Deciduous tree with smooth gray bark, alternate simple leaves, and small greenish flowers followed by small berries
Life Cycle: Perennial tree
Bloom Season: Spring
 
Growth Requirements 
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Texture: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils
Soil pH: Tolerant of a wide range but prefers neutral to slightly alkaline
Moisture Requirements: Tolerant of a wide range of moisture levels, from occasionally dry to wet soils
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low tolerance
 
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Shade tree for parks, streetscapes, and naturalistic landscapes
Maintenance Tips: Low maintenance; prune dead or damaged branches as needed; watch for pests such as hackberry nipple gall
Considerations: Can attract wildlife such as birds and squirrels; may produce a messy fruit drop. Somewhat weak. Tolerant of root disturbance, ideal for parking lots or street trees, also limits plants growing under the tree.
 
Other Information
Edible: The berries are edible for humans and wildlife, though not typically consumed by humans
Medicinal Uses: No significant medicinal uses for humans, though some Native American tribes used parts of the tree for medicinal purposes
Toxicity to Pets: Not known to be toxic to pets
Florida Native Companion Plant: Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Wildlife: Larval host for hackberry emperor, tawny emperor, question mark and mourning cloak butterflies. Only larval host plant for American snout (South Florida). Provides cover and fruits are eaten by many birds and small mammals.