Virginia Tech Dendrology

spiny hackberry Ulmaceae Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. symbol: CEEH
Leaf: Alternate, simple, semi evergreen, oval to ovate, 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long, coarsely toothed (dentate) on upper half of leaf or nearly entire, somewhat leathery, 3 distinct veins coming from the base, green above and below.
Flower: Very small, greenish-yellow, appearing in elongated clusters in leaf axils in early spring or later in the year depending on rainfall.
Fruit: Fleshy, round, 1/4 inch orange drupe, edible and sweet, ripen in late summer and fall.
Twig: Slender, grayish-green or red, stout thorns (up to 1 inch long) at leaf bases.
Bark: Gray-brown and smooth when young, later developing coarse, loose ridges and becoming shreddy.
Form: A large, dense shrub (numerous branches) reaching up to 15 feet in height.
Looks like: netleaf hackberry

Additional Range Information: Celtis ehrenbergiana is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information