Features: The dwarf hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia) is a small, scrubby tree in the Elm family. Even though the scientific name tenuifolia means "with thin leaves", the leaves are stiff and leathery. In spring, the tree produces separate male and female flowers which are small and easily overlooked. The fruits are orange and are eaten by birds and mammals. It grows in the open in dry, sandy soils, including old sand dunes.

Status: Threatened Provincially and Nationally

Range: The dwarf hackberry is a species of the southern United States and the populations in Michigan and Ontario are well separated from the main range. In Ontario, the species is widely scattered but the three main sites are Pelee Island, Point Pelee and the shore of Lake Huron. Range Maps

Threats: Likely never common in Ontario, the dwarf hackberry prefers disturbed sites and will gradually disappear from areas where it becomes shaded out.

Protection: As a provincially threatened species, the Dwarf Hackberry receives protection under Ontario's Endangered Species Act 2007. The main sites are on federal or provincial lands where the trees receive some habitat protection. The species is easily grown in nurseries and would be an excellent candidate for reintroduction if it was needed.

Text Sources: Ambrose 2002; Klinkenberg 1985

Last Modified Date: October 2008