The Sugarberry tree, Celtis laevigata, is also commonly called sugar hackberry or southern hackberry or Mississippi hackberry.Sugarberry trees are basically a southern version of common or northern hackberry. The Sugarberry tree differs from common hackberry because the fruits are juicier and sweeter, bark is less corky, and leaves are narrower with mostly smooth margins. It has better resistance to witches’ broom and less winter hardiness. Sugarberry is a medium to large sized deciduous tree that typically grows 60-80’ tall with upright-arching branching and a rounded spreading crown.
The trunk diameter ranges from 1-3' and the mature gray bark develops a warty texture. Female flowers give way to an often abundant fruit crop of round fleshy berry-like drupes maturing to deep purple. Fruits are attractive to a variety of wildlife, especially birds. Fleshy parts of the fruit are edible and sweet. Leaves are glossy to dull green leaves (2-4” long) and have a yellow fall color.