Celtis occidentalis or Hackberry, is a resilient native to Ontario tree valued for its adaptability. It is found across North America, ranging from southern Ontario and Quebec through parts of New England, south to the Appalachian region of North Carolina, west to northern Oklahoma, and north to North Dakota. Hackberry is well-suited for urban and rural settings, thriving in alkaline, moist, well-drained soils, and tolerating occasional drought and flooding. It can be a prolific seeder, and the aggressive seedlings can out-compete other Ontario natives in forests. Hackberry is known in the US for successfully invading disturbed waste sites in the urban environment. Tolerant of wind, pollution, and various soil conditions, including wet, dry, and poor soils, it thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 9, reaching heights of 40 to 60 feet.