Hackberry

Wind, drought, and poor soils hardly slow down hackberry, a tough native shade tree for difficult sites. Its corky, warty bark adds striking texture to the winter landscape. Small sweet fruits persist through winter for birds, and the leaves host butterflies such as the hackberry emperor. Use it as a street tree, windbreak, or wildlife planting. Seed sown outdoors in fall usually comes up readily in spring, giving you sturdy young trees at very little cost.