American hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
General Description
Hackberry is closely related to sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and is a member of the elm family. There is little difference between sapwood and heartwood, which is yellowish grey to light brown with yellow streaks. The wood has irregular grain, occasionally straight and sometimes interlocked, with a fine uniform texture.
Other Common names
Common hackberry, sugarberry
Distribution & Availability
Throughout Eastern USA, although not available in large commercial volumes. There is some export of lumber, mainly in thinner stock and availability of higher grades may be limited.
Physical & Mechanical Properties
Hackberry is moderately hard, heavy and has medium bending strength, high shock resistance but is low in stiffness. It has a good steam bending classification.
American hackberry - Physical & Mechanical Properties
| Specific Gravity (12% M.C.): | 0.53 |
| Average Weight (12% M.C.): | 593 kg/m3 |
| Average Volume Shrinkage (Green to 6% M.C.): | 13.50% |
| Modulus of Rupture: | 76.535 MPa |
| Modulus of Elasticity: | 8205 MPa |
| Compressive strength (parallel to grain): | 37.509 MPa |
| Hardness: | 3914 N |
Working Properties
The wood planes and turns well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws, and stains and polishes satisfactorily. Hackberry dries readily with minimal degrade. It has a fairly high shrinkage and may be susceptible to movement in performance.
American hackberry - Working Properties
| Sawing | Good |
| Planing | Good |
| Drilling | Good |
| Boring | Good |
| Turning | Good |
| Carving | Good |
| Moulding | Good |
| Nailing | Fair |
| Screwing | Fair |
| Gluing | Good |
| Finishing | Good |
Main Uses
Furniture and kitchen cabinets, joinery, doors and mouldings.
American hackberry - Main Uses
| Doors | ✓ |
| Flooring | ✓ |
| Furniture | ✓ |
| Joinery | ✓ |
| Kitchen cabinets | ✓ |
| Mouldings and turnings | ✓ |
| Veneered panels | ✓ |
| Sports goods | |
| Tool handles |
Other Information
Sometimes referred to as sugarberry and used as an ash substitute. Can be susceptible to blue stain before and after kilning, so lumber purchased in USA will tend to be surfaced (planed).
Select your species
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American alder
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American ash
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American aspen
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American basswood
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American beech
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American yellow birch
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American cherry
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American cottonwood
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American elm
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American gum
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American hackberry
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American hickory & pecan
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American hard maple
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American soft maple
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American red oak
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American white oak
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American sycamore
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American tulipwood
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American walnut
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American willow
