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Hackberry identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Toothed leaves 2 to 5 inches long with a long pointed tip, a lopsided base and three main veins from the base. Bark: Gray-brown with corky warts that build into rough, corky ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify hackberry
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Toothed leaves 2 to 5 inches long with a long pointed tip, a lopsided base and three main veins from the base. |
| Bark | Gray-brown with corky warts that build into rough, corky ridges. |
| Fruit | Round berries 1/4 to 3/8 inch, orange-red to dark purple, thin and sweet over a big seed. |
| Twigs | Slender, zigzag light red-brown twigs. |
| Size and shape | Wide-spreading crown; up to about 60 feet. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is hackberry native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists hackberry as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like hackberry
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| American elm Ulmus americana | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long with sharp double teeth and a clearly lopsided base, smooth or slightly rough on top. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify hackberry?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Toothed leaves 2 to 5 inches long with a long pointed tip, a lopsided base and three main veins from the base. Bark: Gray-brown with corky warts that build into rough, corky ridges.
Is hackberry native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists hackberry as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does hackberry get?
Wide-spreading crown; up to about 60 feet.
How can you tell hackberry in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Slender, zigzag light red-brown twigs. Bark: Gray-brown with corky warts that build into rough, corky ridges.
What tree looks like hackberry?
American elm. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Celtis occidentalis fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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