Celtis occidentalis, or Hackberry, is easily distinguished from elms and some other hackberries by its cork-like bark with wart-like protuberances. The leaves are distinctly asymmetrical and coarse-textured. It produces small fruits that turn orange-red to dark purple in the autumn, often staying on the trees for several months. The common hackberry is easily confused with the sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and is most easily distinguished by range and habitat. The common hackberry also has wider leaves that are coarser above than the sugarberry.

Celtis occidentalis, or Hackberry, is a deciduous tree that commonly grows to 30 to 40 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in diameter, but on the best sites, may reach a height of 130 feet and a diameter of 4 feet or more. It has a straight central trunk and an ovoid crown with a cylindrical shape once mature.

It is best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun and can be transplanted easily. It will tolerate part shade, wind, and many urban pollutants, but does not do well with maritime exposure. The wood is heavy, rather soft and weak. It decays quickly when exposed to moisture. The branches can tend to droop. These trees can live 150 to 200 years.