American Hackberry
Scientific name: Celtis occidentalis
Overview
American Hackberry is a medium-sized hardwood tree native to central and eastern North America. It grows widely along riverbanks, floodplains, and mixed hardwood forests, particularly throughout the Midwest and Great Plains regions.
The wood is light yellow to pale brown and typically has a straight grain with a moderately coarse texture. Although it resembles elm in appearance and working characteristics, hackberry is generally easier to machine.
Hackberry is commonly used in furniture, cabinetry, and general woodworking, and it is sometimes substituted for elm in certain applications.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: American Hackberry
- Scientific Name: Celtis occidentalis
- Region: North American Hardwoods (Central & Eastern United States)
- Tree Size: 60–80 ft tall, 2–3 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft³ (595 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 880 lbf
- Color: Light yellow to pale brown
- Grain: Generally straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Hackberry wood typically ranges from pale yellow to light brown. The grain is generally straight but may show slight interlocking patterns. The texture is somewhat coarse compared to maple or birch.
Growth rings are visible, giving the wood a somewhat similar appearance to elm.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale yellow to light brown color
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Visible growth rings
- Similar appearance to elm
Working Properties
American Hackberry works reasonably well with hand and machine tools. The wood cuts cleanly and can be sanded to a smooth surface, though the coarse texture may require additional finishing.
- Machines fairly well
- Turns reasonably well
- Sands smoothly
- Glues and finishes well
- Moderate durability
Safety Note
Wood dust from hackberry may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals. Standard dust protection is recommended during machining or sanding.
Common Uses
Hackberry is used in a variety of woodworking applications.
Common uses include
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Veneer
- Interior millwork
- Turned objects
- Boxes and general woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
American Hackberry is widely distributed across the United States and grows readily in many environments. It is considered a sustainable hardwood species and is commonly harvested as part of mixed hardwood forests.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
American Elm – Similar grain structure and texture but typically stronger.
Basswood – A softer hardwood with a finer texture and lighter color.
American Ash – A stronger hardwood with more prominent grain patterns.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Learning grain structure helps distinguish hackberry from elm and ash.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability
Proper drying is important for stable hardwood lumber.
Wood Strength
Learn what determines wood strength, including density, stiffness, and resistance to bending and impact.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
American Hackberry is often included in hardwood collections because it represents a lesser-known North American species that resembles elm in both appearance and working properties.
Sample boards help illustrate the subtle grain patterns and texture differences between hackberry and other regional hardwoods such as ash and elm.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• CMT Orange Tools 8-Inch Dado Saw Blade Set for creating clean grooves, dados, and joinery cuts in woodworking projects
https://amzn.to/4wLVIzR
• Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner for restoring and protecting finished wood surfaces
https://amzn.to/3PDy0VS
• General Tools MMD4E Digital Moisture Meter for checking moisture content in wood and detecting potential water damage
https://amzn.to/4wMsEbz
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