Celtis AFRICANA

Celtis AFRICANA - African hackberry, Celtis africana, African elm, White stinkwood.

Can be grown in bonsai style!

Celtis, or hackberry, is a genus of deciduous, rarely evergreen trees in the Cannabaceae family, comprising about 100 species from temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres. They usually grow on open slopes with dry rocky soil, in the lower band of the forest belt on cliffs or forest edges, most often on limestone-bearing rocks.

Representatives of the genus are trees from 10 to 25 m (32.8 to 82.0 ft) in height, rarely reaching 40 m (131.2 ft). The bark is gray and smooth. Simple leaves are arranged alternately; they are rigid and dense, with an asymmetrical shape, from 3 to 15 cm (1.2 to 5.9 in) long. Leaf blades are ovate-pointed with teeth evenly distributed along the margins and three veins at the base.

Flowering occurs simultaneously with leaf emergence. Small bisexual and staminate flowers appear in early spring. Male flowers are longer and fluffier; female flowers are greenish and rounded. Both types of flowers are located in leaf axils or in the upper part of shoots. The perianth is simple, five-parted.

The fruit is a small, almost spherical drupe 6-10 mm (0.24-0.39 in) in diameter with a pitted or wrinkled stone and rather dry but sweet pulp, edible in many species. Seeds have a small endosperm and an embryo with broad flat cotyledons. Fruits remain on the trees for a long time after ripening.

It grows slowly. It begins to bear fruit between the ages of 10 and 20 years. It lives up to 500 years.

African hackberry is a deciduous tree with smooth, light gray to white bark. On old trees, the bark may peel slightly and have horizontal furrows. Light green, delicate leaves contrast beautifully with the pale bark. Leaves are simple, alternate, triangular in shape with three distinct veins from the base and serrated margins. New leaves are bright, tender green, and pubescent, darkening and becoming smoother as they mature.

Before planting, seeds require moist stratification, for which they are mixed with damp sand and placed for 6 months in a cold environment with a temperature of 3-5 °C (37-41 °F). In home conditions, a refrigerator is used. Every 2 weeks the seeds are mixed and the sand is moistened.

The seeds have a strong genetic memory and can lie for a long time waiting for a favorable period, so you should not discard sowings before that very favorable time. Seedlings become suitable for planting out after 4-5 months. In open ground, seeds can be sown directly outdoors before winter without preparation.

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For growing hackberry, a spot with bright sunlight is preferred, although the plant is also tolerant of partial shade. It feels wonderful in heat, but cannot tolerate frost.

In warm periods, generous watering is required as the top 3 cm (1.2 in) of soil dries out, every 1-2 weeks, depending on ambient temperature. The soil should be well saturated, but water stagnation must be avoided; the tree does not like wet soils. Misting with soft water can be carried out as needed.

Clayey neutral or slightly alkaline soils with good air and moisture permeability are preferred. Drainage must be provided. Repotting is carried out once every 3 years in early spring with accompanying pruning of one-third to half of the root mass.

From early spring to autumn, with a break in July-August, the plant is fed with slow-release organic fertilizers. Regular feeding stimulates lignification of shoots and makes branches stronger.

From the beginning of the growing season until the end of summer, for better branching, stimulating pruning of long young branches is carried out, making a cut directly above the leaf axils. Regulating pruning is performed in March-April, immediately before growth begins. Wiring is possible throughout the entire growing season from spring to autumn.