Celtis tournefortii aka Oriental Hackberry

Celtis tournefortii, or Oriental hackberry, is a deciduous tree. It belongs to the Cannabaceae family. Its native range runs from the Balkans to northwestern Iran. Records also include Sicily, Crete, Cyprus, Crimea, and Turkey. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In Turkey, it grows on open, rocky ground. In Greece and the Balkans, it also grows among shrubs.

The tree reaches about 26 feet [8 metres] in height. It loses its leaves for winter. It can serve as a canopy tree in woodland gardens. Trees may live for a very long time. PFAF suggests that some may reach about 1,000 years. Young seedlings can have white patches on their leaves. These patches lack chlorophyll, but later leaves grow green. This early leaf pattern does not itself signal a problem.

Flowers appear in April, and bees pollinate them. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds reach maturity in October. The small fruit can be eaten raw. PFAF suggests that its flesh may be sweet, dry, and mealy. It also suggests a large seed leaves little flesh. These details are tentative rather than a firm fruit description. PFAF lists no known hazards or medicinal uses for this tree.

Choose a sunny site, since this tree cannot grow in shade. It prefers fertile loam that drains well. It also grows in sand, dry gravel, and poor soil. Suitable soils range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Dry or moist ground can suit it. Established trees resist drought well. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Summer warmth matters as well as winter cold. Cool British summers may leave the wood short of full maturity. This can lead to winter dieback.

Propagation is by seed, best sown fresh in a cold frame. Stored seed benefits from two to three months of cold treatment. Sow it under glass in February or March. Germination is often good, though stored seed may take over a year. Seed can remain in storage for up to five years. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.