Sugarberry Tree {Celtis laevigata} 1st year Fruit bearing! Edible | Fast Growing | High Yield | High Germination | 10 seeds Sugarberry is a deciduous tree native to North America and is found in the coastal and eastern Piedmont areas of NC often along stream banks. It can grow 50-70 feet tall with a somewhat narrower spread. It is fast growing with a rounded vase crown and makes a good shade tree as it is resistant to urban pollution. The fruits mature to red or purple and are eaten by many birds and mammals. In zones 8 and under, it can have attractive yellow fall color. The unusual warty bark and fruits provide some winter interest. The tree prefers a sandy to clay loam that is moist and well-drained in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate salt, acid to mildly alkaline pHs, periodic flooding and drought once established. It is tolerant of soil compaction making it useful in parking lot islands and medians in addition to using as a shade tree for your home or naturalized area. Sugarberry can be pruned and kept at shrub size by cutting them to the ground every 2-3 years. It is fairly resistant to witches' broom. Also, Sugarberry fruit is juicier and sweeter. Speaking of the fruit, is sugarberry edible? Sugarberry was commonly used by many Native American tribes. The Comanche beat the fruit to a pulp and then mixed it with animal fat, rolled it into balls, and roasted it in the fire. The resulting balls had a long shelf life and became nutritious food reserves. Germination requirements: Percentage of sound seed is quite high. Germination is relatively uniform the first year if cold/moist stratified for 3 to 4 months. Some ungerminated seed may germinate in subsequent years. Untreated seed may be fall planted or treated seed sown in the spring. Sow seed in prepared seed beds to 1” deep, mulch for weed control and protect from rodents. Seed can be sown in natural soil for restoration purposes. Germination is epigeal. Seedlings grow vigorously the first year and can reach 12 to 18” high the first season under ideal growing conditions.