In Pennsylvania, you might hear people call common hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, a sugarberry. Celtis laevigata, whose list of common names also includes sugarberry, is a southern relative of our native species. Though there are no signs of Celtis occidentalis being impacted negatively in our region by a warmer climate, it is possible that we could see C. laevigata in the near future, and perhaps to an even greater extent than C. occidentalis. Both species host many butterflies, including the Hackberry Emperor, American Snout, and Question Mark butterfly, and their fruits are eaten by all sorts of birds and mammals, giving them high wildlife value.
As we look to the future of our forests, we must reconcile that some endemic species may not survive in a warmer climate. Therefore, it's important for us to consider growing and planting unconventional species to fill ecological and cultural niches left empty by species that may die out. In the case of this species, we probably won’t need to turn to it, as our native Celtis occidentalis can provide practically all of the same ecosystem services. However, the expansion of sugarberry’s habitat could be good for the biodiversity of the mid-Atlantic.
This infographic series was inspired in part by a presentation given by Jehane Samaha at the 2024 Canopy Conference at Haverford College, where she explored tree species that we may see more of in Pennsylvania as the climate warms. For the two range maps, we utilized data from the Community Climate System Model, version 4.0.
To view the second page, mouse over the infographic and click the arrows in the bottom left corner.
Sources:
North Carolina State University Extension. (n.d.). Celtis laevigata. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/celtis-laevigata/
North Carolina State University Extension. (n.d.). Celtis occidentalis. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/celtis-occidentalis/
United States Forest Service. (n.d.). hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). Climate Change Atlas. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/462
United States Forest Service. (n.d.). sugarberry (Celtis laevigata). Climate Change Atlas. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/461
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