Description

The western hackberry is found in seasonally moist areas in many states of the American west and south. It also grows in Mexico. In California, the populations are scattered in the deserts of the southeast, typically in mountainous regions near waterways. This member of the elm family grows as a rounded shrub or tree up to thirty feet or so. The leaves are bright green and grow quite densely over ashy white bark. The inconspicuous white flowers appear in spring, followed by waxy red berries. Although a desert tree in California, western hackberry thrives when planted in many settings throughout the state. Its main requirements are ample sun and regular moisture. It becomes more drought tolerant with age, of course. If allowed to dry out, western hackberry will drop its leaves in the summer. It is always winter deciduous.