Terms of flowering honey plants in the USA and Canada

According to observations of naturalists and beekeepers.

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Common name:

Nettle-tree

Scientific name:

Celtis occidentalis.

Life form:

Tree-shrub.

Flowering time:

7 days.

Flowering period

in Texas for this plant is: April.

NECTAR PRODUCTION:
No data

SOURCE FOR HONEY BEES:
Minor


General distribution:

Common hackberry is most common in the midwestern United States. It is sparingly distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, rare along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Virginia, occasional in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, and restricted to Hemphill County in the Texas panhandle.

Common hackberry tolerates a range of climatic and soil conditions. Although most common along rivers and streams, it also occurs in open woodlands, rocky hillsides, limestone outcrops, and sand barrens throughout its North American range.

Map of distribution and habitat in USA

This plant is present in at least 45 states/provinces in this country.

See The Map

Botanical description:

Common hackberry typically grows as a broad tree measuring around 50 feet (15 m) tall and 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter; however, size and growth form can vary with site conditions. Common hackberry trees may reach 110 feet (35 m) tall and 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter. Common hackberry bark is thick, deeply furrowed, and develops warty cork projections with age.

Common hackberry is symmetrical and open-branched, with larger branches 26 to 33 feet (8-10 m) above ground. The crown is ascending with spreading branches, which droop at the tips. Common hackberry is sensitive to mites (Eriophyes spp.), which cause witches' brooms or thick clusters of branches and twigs. It produces simple leaves, which are arranged alternately, measure 1.2 to 6.7 inches (3-17 cm) long, and are about twice as long as they are wide. Leaves have serrated margins with 10 to 40 teeth per side, at least on the upper half. Leaves are triangular with uneven sides, long tapered tips, and 3 prominent veins from the same basal point. Common hackberry trees produce both male and female flowers. Pistillate and staminate flowers are usually solitary but also occur in clusters of up to 3. Pistillate flowers are borne in the axils of new leaves, and staminate flowers are borne at the ends of new branches. Common hackberry produces solitary, single-seeded drupes that are 8 to 11 mm in diameter.

Seasonal development:

Common hackberry produces flowers at the same time as leaves, which is typically in April or May. Flowers are typical in early April in the southern part of the common hackberry's range and in late May in the northern part of its range. Fruits are often ripe in September or October but remain on the tree until winter or spring.


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List of honey plants that may be blooming now in Texas
See the entire list

Ulmus americana (aka: American elm, White elm, Water elm, Soft elm, Florida elm)

Salix nigra (aka: Black willow, Swamp willow, Southwestern black willow, Gulf black willow, Scythe-leaved willow)

Acer saccharinum (aka: Silver maple, Soft maple)

Cercis canadensis (aka: Eastern redbud, Redbud, Cersis Reniformis)

Malus angustifolia (aka: American crab apple, Buncombe crab apple, Crabtree, Narrowleaf crab, Narrowleaf crab apple, Southern crab, Southern crab apple)

Aronia arbutifolia (aka: Red chokeberry)

Amelanchier arborea (aka: Common serviceberry, Downy serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadbush, Shadblow, Sugarplum)

Salix gooddingii (aka: Goodding's willow, Dudley willow, Valley willow, Western black willow)

Prunus serotina (aka: Black cherry, Wild black cherry, Rum cherry, Mountain black cherry, Wild cherry)

Acer grandidentatum (aka: Bigtooth maple, Canyon maple, Western sugar maple)

Acer negundo (aka: Boxelder, Western boxelder, Arizona boxelder, California boxelder, Texas boxelder, Interior boxelder, Violet boxelder)

Robinia pseudoacacia (aka: Black locust, False acacia, Yellow locust, White locust, Green locust, Post locust, Falsa acacia, Robinia)

Celtis laevigata (aka: Hackberry, Sugarberry, Lowland hackberry, Sugar hackberry, Arizona sugarberry, Netleaf hackberry, Small's hackberry, Southern hackberry, Texas sugarberry)

Pyrus communis (aka: European pear, Common pear)

Ungnadia speciosa (aka: Mexican buckeye, Texas buckeye, Canyon buckeye, Spanish buckeye, New Mexican buckeye, New Mexico buckeye, False buckeye, Monillo, Monilla)