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Native Plant Society of Texas

Spiny Hackberry

Celtis pallida

Other common name(s):

Granjeno, Shiny Hackberry, Huasteco, Desert Hackberry

Family:

Cannabaceae (Hemp Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Balcones Canyonlands, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

10
to
20
ft.

Spread

8
to
10
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Yellow, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Drought tolerant. Drops leaves during extended dry spells, but will re-leaf after that. Good for erosion control. Prune for shape and size. Works well in beds, borders, and containers and as hedges and screens. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms February-May. One of the few shrubs in the Celtis genus. Numerous spiny branches are whitish gray. Leaves are small, roundish, and somewhat rough. Small, inconspicuous, white flowers grow in clusters. The fruit is shiny red, orange and yellow. Larval host: American Snout Butterfly.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Celtis ehrenbergiana, Celtis spinosa var. pallida, Celtis tala var. pallida, Momisia pallida

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed is best given 2 - 3 months cold stratification and then sown February/March in a greenhouse. Germination rates are usually good, though the stored seed might take 12 months or more to germinate. The seed can be stored for up to 5 years. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The leaves of seedlings often have a lot of white patches without chlorophyll, this is normal and older plants produce normal green leaves. Grow the seedlings on in a cold frame for their first winter, and plant them out in the following late spring or early summer. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. 1) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Celtis+pallida#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,Cuttings 2) https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=1065
Seedling Scarification Seeds that will be planted soon (1-3 days) after collection may be planted with the fruit (pulp) intact, with favorable germination. Scarification is also recommended for increasing germination of spiny hackberry. Germination as high as 62% has been obtained using a combination of mechanical scarification, gibberellic acid, and heat/chill treatments. The seeds of spiny hackberry should be cleaned from the fruit after collection if planting will be delayed. Care should be taken when drying cleaned seeds, as this species is especially susceptible to molding. https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/plant/granjeno

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason