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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Celtis ehrenbergiana (Desert hackberry)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm.

Desert hackberry, Spiny hackberry, Granjeno, Shiny hackberry, Huasteco

Ulmaceae (Elm Family)

Synonyms: Celtis spinosa var. pallida, Celtis pallida

USDA Symbol: CEEH

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

One of the few shrubs in the Celtis genus, this deciduous plant rarely reaches 10 ft. in height. Its numerous spiny branches are whitish gray. The bark is smooth and gray. Leaves are small, roundish, and somewhat rough. Clusters of small, fairly inconspicuous, white flowers are followed by shiny red, orange and yellow fruit ripening in fall but persisting long after leaf-fall.

The species name pallida can be attributed to the paleness of the branches.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: 12-36
Leaf Color: Green
Fruit Color: Orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , FL , NM , TX
Native Distribution: W. TX to AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Mesas; foothills; thickets
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Drier, rocky soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam Medium Loam Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: Good erosion control.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive
Use Wildlife: Valuable bird and honey plant. The dense growth makes excellent cover for Gambels quail and other birds. Nectar-insects, bees, butterflies, moths. Fruit-mammals, birds. Celtis ehrenbergiana is the host plant source for the occasional population explosions of American Snout Butterflies. During summer releafing at the end of extended droughts, adult American Snout populations can number in the billions in South Texas.
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: American Snout butterfly

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Celtis ehrenbergiana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
American Snout Butterfly
(Libytheana carinenta)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

 

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Hello, I am a chef from Buenos Aires Argentina visiting Austin, Texas and would like to learn about native, edible plants in the region. Please let me know if there are any native, edible plants and if they grow wild, I can harvest them myself, or if there is a place I can purchase them. thanks, salud!!
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Celtis ehrenbergiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Celtis ehrenbergiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Celtis ehrenbergiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-08-05
Research By: TWC Staff

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