Hardiness zones
Sunset All zones
USDA 1-3, 10-13

Landscape Use: Mesic/xeric transition shade tree, parks, open green spaces, desert gardens

Form & Character: Deciduous broadleaf tree, upright, stout, sturdy

Growth Habit: Strongly upright to 30-60' height with near to equal spread, branches spreading and sometimes pendulous

Foliage/Texture: Scabrous ovate leaves with an inequalateral base tapering to a acuminate tip, 2-3" long, veins prominent, slightly serrate, trunk smooth and greyish with distinctive hackberry "warts", medium coarse texture

Flowers & Fruits: Flowers insignificant, flowers a small orange reddish drupe to 3/8" wide on a 3/8" peduncle.

Seasonal Color: Some yellow brown fall foliar color

Temperature: Hardy

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant of a variety of soil types

Watering: Infrequent deep water during the summer

Pruning: Elevate canopy base

Propagation: Seed

Disease and pests: None, noticeably resistant to oak root rot fungus

Additional comments: Western hackberry is an exceedingly tough tree with a homely and clumsy appearance; ergo, it is rarely planted as an amenity tree in Phoenix landscapes. However, for water conservation and native plantings purposes, western hackberry should be used more often in Phoenix landscapes as a deciduous shade tree. C. occidentalis (eastern hackberry) is very similar but larger and more vigorous with foliage to 5" long. C. pallida (desert hackberry) is a shrubby relative that is indigenous to the desert southwest and is frankly more servicable than C. reticulata for native desert landscapes.