A very variable species, according to some botanists these merit varietal status whilst other botanists say that the differences are too slight[]. We are following the treatment in the Flora of N. America[], which treats it as one variable species[].

Common Name: Sugarberry

General Information

Celtis laevigata is a deciduous tree with a broad, spreading crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental and a street tree[].
Celtis laevigata has a wide native range and it is assumed the population is large. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern and eastern N. America - Kansas to Delaware, south to northern Mexico, Texas and Florida

Habitat

In rich bottomlands along streams, in flood plains, and on rocky slopes, generally in clay soils; at elevations from sea level to 300 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Celtis laevigata can be very cold-hardy when growing in hot summer areas, able to tolerate winter temperatures falling to at least -20°c[]. Within its native range, summer temperatures average 27°c, with extremes to 46°c. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 510 - 1,520mm[]. This species prefers hotter summers and more sunlight than are normally experienced in maritime regions of the temperate zone. In areas with cooler summers the plants often do not fully ripen their wood and are then very subject to die-back in the winter, even if winters are mild[, , ].
Older plants require a sunny position, but seedlings are very shade tolerant and grow well under other trees[]. Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, preferring a good fertile well-drained loamy soil[, , ]. Succeeds on dry gravels and on sandy soils[]. Plants are usually found on clay soils in the wild[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[].
Trees are moderate to fast-growing, probably living no more than 125 - 150 years[]. They can be very long-lived according to another report, perhaps surviving for 1,000 years[].
Trees commence fruiting when around 15 years old, with the greatest yields occurring between the ages of 30 - 70 years, and can fruit heavily in most years in their native environment[, ].
The tree is grown as an ornamental and as a street tree, especially in N. America[].
The tree is susceptible to damage by ice, which breaks main stems and branches[].
The bark of sugarberry is thin and easily damaged by fire. When top-killed, sugarberry will usually resprout from the root collar[].
Compounds washed out from the leaves by rain (mainly ferulic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acids), have been shown to reduce the growth of grass and other plants growing beneath the tree[].
The various N. American Celtis species provide an important wildlife habitat, forming thickets that give shelter and fleshy drupes that ripen in autumn, persist after the leaves fall, and supply winter food for birds and mammals[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. The flesh is thin, dry and sweetish, covering a single large seed[, ]. The orange to brown or red fruit is 5 - 8mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark has been used in the treatment of sore throats[]. It has also been used, mixed with powdered shells, as a treatment for VD[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Within its native range, sugarberry naturally moves into areas that have had their trees removed, the seeds being carried there in the faeces of mammals, birds etc[]. This makes the plant a good pioneer and it could be planted in the early stages of establishing native woodland or a woodland garden - the trees growing quickly and providing shelter for other plants[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is a yellowish gray brown to light brown; the sapwood is pale yellow to grayish or greenish yellow. The wood is straight and close-grained, moderately hard, strong in bending, but weak in compression. It also has high shock resistance, but lacks stiffness. The wood planes and turns well. It is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws. It resists splitting from screws better than from nails; glueing properties are excellent[]. It is used for cheap furniture, millwork, sporting and athletic goods, boxes and crates, fencing, veneer and plywood[, , , ].
The wood is used for fuel[, , ].

We have no more specific information for this species, but most species in this genus yield a fine timber; their fibre-rich bark is utilized for the manufacture of ropes and paper; and an oil obtained from the seed is used for making soaps and lubricants[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. Stored seed is best given 2 - 3 months cold stratification and then sown late winter/early spring in a greenhouse[, ]. Germination rates are usually good, though the stored seed might take 12 months or more to germinate. The seed can be stored for up to 5 years[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The leaves of seedlings often have a lot of white patches without chlorophyll, this is normal and older plants produce normal green leaves. Grow the seedlings on in a cold frame for their first winter, and plant them out in the following late spring or early summer[]. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings