| Among the least known, appreciated or planted shade trees, are Celtis. In my various books, I described them as relatives of elm trees, in the ULMACEÆ. However, recent botanical study has shown that really Celtis are best placed in the hemp family CANNABACEÆ, some of whose other genera are Aphananthe, Cannabis, Humulus, Peteroceltis and Trema. All are wind pollinated. Celtis has the most species in the family, about 60. Some scientists proposed in 2023 that the tropical evergreen Celtis be segregated as a genus split away from the temperate deciduous Celtis species. The temperate trees have sharp toothed leaf margins, fleeting sepals, and rough, pale seeds. In contrast, the tropical ±evergreen Celtis species commonly have untoothed leaf margins, persistent sepals on the mature fruit, and smooth, dark seeds. |
Below are treated those five Celtis trees I am aware of in Seattle, other than those found only in Washington Park Arboretum. If you are aware of any others I will be glad to learn about them from you. At the moment I am too busy to write more about these trees . . . but below is from my 1996 book North American Landscape Trees:
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Celtis was the Roman naturalist Pliny's name for the Lotus, a tree with sweet berries described by Herodotus, Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and Homer. Some think they referred to this genus. An Arabic name for Celtis australis is lûtus. The modern name Nettle tree was given in England because Celtis australis leaves are rough and jaggedly toothed like those of nettles. In the United States, the usual name is Hackberry --likely a corruption of Hagberry. Celtis often are rugged, handsome, deep-rooted shade trees, afflicted by few serious pests. The bark on some species is interesting. Flowers are inconspicuous. Leaves often lopsided at the base, with three prominent main veins. Fall color usually plain yellow. Fruit a pea-sized, single-seeded hard berry, with sweet but scant flesh; ripe in fall. Lacking flamboyance and romantic associations, hackberries are like cinder blocks: eminently useful but stigmatized by default.
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| Celtis australis L. |
| European or Mediterranean Hackberry. European or Southern Nettle-tree. Lote Tree. |
The UW Friendship Grove specimen died. The only tree I know in Seattle is at 4145 11th Ave NE: 36' tall.
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| Celtis caucasica Willd. |
| Caucasian Hackberry or Nettle-tree. |
It has been years since I checked but one used to grow at Woodland Park Zoo on the Rain Forest Loop.
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| Celtis occidentalis L. |
| Common or Northern Hackberry. Nettle-tree. |
Known at Jefferson Golf Course; Day School; the Zoo; Seattle Buddhist Church Wisteria Plaza; and in a private garden. I think the Lake Washington Boulevard tree died. There is a small tree that may be of this species at 518 NE 91st Street. Frankly, I would prefer that it be yet another kind, but until I check it I am guessing it is Seattle's least rare species.
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| Celtis reticulata Torr. |
| Netleaf or Western Hackberry. |
May still exist at the Locks; I have not checked in many years.
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| Celtis sinensis Pers. |
| Chinese Hackberry. Chinese: Po Shu (朴树). |
The UW campus tree died.
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Celtis australis 4145 11th Ave NE. Mid-October ; photo by ALJ
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Celtis seedling ; photo by ALJ
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Celtis occidentalis flowers. Male left; female right. Springtime; photo by ALJ
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Celtis occidentalis fall color. Mid-November; photo by ALJ
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That is my overview for you.
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