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. See states reporting spiny hackberry. External Links: USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson