Hackberry is a large native tree found on floodplains and terraces across southern and central Minnesota. It has been called "one tough tree" due to its adaptability to a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions, as well as other conditions including heat, drought, salt spray, wind, ice and short periods of flooding. This makes it a great tree for tough sites, including boulevards in urban areas, as well as a good option for planting in our changing climate.
The hackberry grows up to 70 feet in height, and 50 feet in width. It has 2 ½ -4-inch, simple, alternate leaves that turn yellow in the fall. Berries are small (approximately 1/4 inch in diameter) and green in color, ripening to a dark red in late summer. They are a favorite of Cedar Waxwings and other birds. It has a unique, corky textured bark.
Hackberry trees currently make up .8% of the total Tree Canopy Area in Mendota Heights (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022).