A relative of the Elm tree, hackberry trees are adaptable to a wide range of light and moisture levels. Often planted for its purple-red fruit that attracts a wide variety of birds, hackberry can be used as a native alternative for Chinese and Siberian Elms.

Importance as a caterpillar food source: Hackberry trees provide many butterfly species with caterpillar food. Although the activity is usually high above easy viewing levels, some guidelines for caterpillar identification are:

• Tawny Emperor caterpillars eggs are laid in large groups of 200 to 500 on Hackberry bark or leaves. The young caterpillars feed in large groups.
• Hackberry Emperor caterpillar eggs are laid in small groups ranging from one to twenty.
• American Snout caterpillar eggs are laid in small groups.
• Caterpillars of the Question Mark butterfly live alone on hackberry leaves.
• Mourning Cloak caterpillars live together in a web while eating Hackberry leaves.

Importance as a butterfly nectar source: Hackberry is used as a nectar source but it's popularity varies by location.

The current rating for hackberry is:

If you have experience growing hackberry, we would like your opinion. Let us know how it performed in your butterfly garden. Your comments will help other butterfly gardeners in your region to create better butterfly gardens: