Celtis laevigata
The bark on sugarberry has a characteristically warty appearance. It is often confused with common hackberry (C. occidentalis); the best way to discern the two apart is where they grow: sugarberry in the South and hackberry in the North, though even this should not be relied upon as there is overlap. The wood of both C. laevigata and C. occidentalis are grouped together and are used in furniture and plywood. As the name suggests, the fruit it produces are edible and sweet. Sugarberry was a food source for Native Americans, such as the Houma, who would also use the bark to make herbal medicines.
Family: Cannabaceae (formerly Ulmaceae)
Foliage: Deciduous
Mature height range: up to 60-80 ft.
Light exposure: Partial Shade
Soil preference: Prefers moister, bottomland soils, but can tolerate a variety of sites
Tolerance: Tolerates some flooding and urban conditions
Wildlife: fruit are eaten by birds, herbivory by insects, larval host plant for the American snout (Libytheana carinenta), mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis), tawny emperor (Asterocampa clyton) and question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis).
