Chinese hackberry (Celtis biondii) is a small tree native to China, Korea, and Japan that loses its leaves in winter. Its leaves have long, narrow tips, and its round fruits ripen yellow to reddish orange. In U.S. plant guides, the name usually refers to a different Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis), which has a shorter leaf tip.

Appearance

Growth form
It is a deciduous small tree.
Leaves
Leaves are about 1–3 in (2.5–8 cm) long; their upper edges are toothed and the tips taper into a narrow point.
Fruit
The round fruits ripen yellow to reddish orange and are about 0.2–0.3 in (5–7 mm) wide.

Look-alikes

Bunge's hackberryCeltis bungeana

Look at ripe fruit: Biond’s hackberry has yellow to orange fruit, while Bunge’s hackberry has dark blue to black fruit. Both can have teeth mainly on the upper half of the leaf.

Why they get mixed upThe leaves of both trees have similar shapes and sparse teeth.

Chinese hackberryCeltis sinensis

Chinese hackberry is the tree usually meant by that name in U.S. plant guides. Its leaf tip is short to moderately pointed, while this species has a long, narrow tip; fruit colors can overlap.

Why they get mixed upThe two species share an English name.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • mountain forests
  • limestone areas
Range
Native to China, Korea, and Japan.

Name and classification

About the name
Biond’s hackberry is another name for this species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
11 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API
  2. 국가생물종목록
  3. Flora of Korea
  4. Flora of China
  5. 京都府レッドデータブック
  6. Plants of the World Online
  7. Polly Hill Arboretum living collections
  8. English Names for Korean Native Plants
  9. Flora of Korea, Celtis identification key
  10. NC State Extension Chinese Hackberry
  11. 環境省 サキシマエノキ
Chinese hackberry (Celtis biondii) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo