Celtis Pallida, Desert Hackberry

Celtis pallida, Desert Hackberry

Category: Shrub Characteristics & Culture Description Size (H x W) 12 feet x 8 feet Sonoran Desert MVP. This dense, evergreen, thorny shrub screens unwelcome views. Sonoran Yes, Tucson basin and Provides food and shelter to numerous species Desert Native? mountains of birds, insects and other wildlife. Abundant Native 1500-4000’ orange fruits in the fall are edible by humans Elevation and wildlife. Hardiness 10 degrees F Photo inset: American snout butterfly Bloom Season Spring depositing eggs on hackberry Blossom Inconspicuous Seasonality May drop leaves after severe freeze Exposure Full sun to partial shade Soils Tolerant - most soil types are acceptable Water Low - benefits from water harvesting Pruning None Growth Rate Moderate with irrigation Reseeds Readily

Photo inset: Wildlife Benefits Verdin nest in hackberry Butterfly Empress leila, Hackberry Larval Host emperor, Tawny emperor, Plant American snout Moth Larval Small prominent moth, Host Plant Randa’s eyed silk moth Nectar Plant Native pollinators Shelter / Essential habitat plant for Nesting Site / native birds and wildlife. Nest Materials Dense, thorny shrub for Birds provides safe nesting and refuge. Food for Birds Abundant orange fruits in fall feed numerous species of native birds.

Credit: Information is from observation as well as research compiled by Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery (a great source for native plants in Tucson, AZ).

Category: Shrub Characteristics & Culture Description Size (H x W) 8 feet x 10 feet Sonoran desert MVP. An important source of food and shelter for wildlife. Dense, thorny Sonoran Yes, Tucson basin and shrub provides protected nesting spaces. One Desert Native? mountains of the few winter flowering plants in the desert, Native 1000 - 3500’ the lavender tubular blooms feed hummingbirds Elevation and other pollinators. Large, orange berries in Hardiness 10 degrees F the spring provide food to numerous species of birds and animals. Bloom Season Opportunistically with rain, largest bloom in winter Blossom Lavender Seasonality Drought deciduous Exposure Full sun to light shade Soils Tolerant - most soil types are acceptable Water Low Pruning None Growth Rate Moderate with irrigation Reseeds Infrequently Wildlife Benefits Butterfly Unknown Larval Host Plant Moth Larval Mexican agapema Host Plant silkmoth, Sphinx, Prominent, Crambid Nectar Plant Hummingbirds, butterflies, sphinx moths and other native pollinators Shelter / Shelter, nesting site and Nesting Site / feeder in one Nest Materials for Birds Food for Birds Berry favorite of Phainopepla and many other species

Credit: Information is from observation as well as research compiled by Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery (a great source for native plants in Tucson, AZ).

Category: Shrub / Tree Characteristics & Culture Description Size (H x W) 15 feet x 15 feet Sonoran Desert MVP. Small tree with lots of character. Tough, recurved spines. Covered in Sonoran Yes, Tucson basin and deliciously scented, cream-colored flowers in Desert Native? mountains spring. Provides food, shelter and nesting sites Native Below 5000’ for birds and other wildlife. Excellent defensive Elevation plant for people. Hardiness 0 degrees F Bloom Season Spring Blossom Cream Seasonality Deciduous Exposure Full sun Soils Tolerant - most soil types are acceptable Water Low Pruning None required Growth Rate Slow Reseeds Readily Wildlife Benefits Butterfly Mexican yellow, Mimosa Larval Host yellow, Reakirt’s blue, Plant Marine blue Moth Larval Hubbard’s small silkmoth, Host Plant Tricolor buckmoth, Black witch moth, Owlet moths (3), Mesquite stinger flannel moth, Naval orange worm moth, Merry melipotis moth Nectar Plant Many species of native pollinators Shelter / Nesting site for birds, Nesting Site / cover for birds and other Nest Materials wildlife for Birds Food for Birds Edible seed pods

Credit: Information is from observation as well as research compiled by Desert Survivors Native Plant Lucy’s warbler foraging for insects on catclaw acacia. Nursery (a great source for native plants in Tucson, AZ).

Category: Shrub Characteristics & Culture Description Size (H x W) 10 feet x 12 feet Sonoran Desert MVP. Deciduous medium shrub to small tree that provides vital habitat and food Sonoran Yes, Tucson basin and for many native birds, insects and mammals. Desert Native? mountains Fragrant, yellow, puffball flower displays in Native 1500-6500’ spring and late summer. Elevation Hardiness -10 degrees F Bloom Season Spring and late summer Blossom Yellow; very fragrant Seasonality Winter deciduous Exposure Full sun to part shade

Soils Tolerant - most soil types are acceptable Water Low Pruning None Growth Rate Moderate with irrigation Reseeds Infrequently Wildlife Benefits Butterfly Mexican yellow, Mimosa Larval Host yellow, Reakirt’s blue Plant Moth Larval Black witch, Merry Host Plant melipotis, Mesquite stinger flannel, Naval orangeworm Nectar Plant Butterflies and other native pollinators Shelter / Key nesting/foraging/ Nesting Site / shelter plant for native Nest Materials birds and mammals for Birds Food for Birds Hosts variety of insects for insectivores like the Verdin, Vireos and Warblers; seeds favored by Gambel’s quail

Credit: Information is from observation as well as research compiled by Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery (a great source for native plants in Tucson, AZ).

Category: Shrub Characteristics & Culture Description Size (H x W) 8 feet x 7 feet Sonoran Desert MVP. Erect, long branching shrub with stout thorns. Covered in black Sonoran Yes, Tucson basin and berries in the spring feasted upon by many Desert Native? mountains species of bird. Provides shelter and nesting Native 1000-5000’ sites for birds. Elevation Hardiness 15 degrees F Bloom Season Spring, summer and fall depending on moisture Blossom Yellow, inconspicuous Seasonality Mostly deciduous in winter Exposure Partial shade to full sun Soils Tolerant - most soil types are acceptable Water Low Pruning None Growth Rate Slow Reseeds Infrequently Wildlife Benefits Butterfly Unknown Larval Host Plant Moth Larval Unknown Host Plant Nectar Plant Many species of native pollinators Shelter / Nesting site for birds, Nesting Site / cover for birds and other Nest Materials wildlife for Birds Food for Birds Berry favorite of Phainopepla

Credit: Information is from observation as well as research compiled by Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery (a great source for native plants in Tucson, AZ).