Life History and Disturbance Response of Celtis laevigata (sugarberry)
Family: Ulmaceae
Guild: opportunistic, fast-growing understory tolerant
Functional Lifeform: medium-size deciduous tree
Ecological Role: grows on a wide range of sites but is most common on bottomlands and deep, moist soils; establishes under bottomland hardwoods and rapidly responds to release
Lifespan, yrs (typical/max): 125/150
Shade Tolerance: tolerant
Height, m: 18-24
Canopy Tree: yes
Pollination Agent: wind
Seeding, yrs (begins/optimal/declines): 15/30/70
Mast Frequency, yrs: 1
New Cohorts Source: seeds or sprouts
Flowering Dates: early spring
Flowers/Cones Damaged by Frost: yes
Seedfall Begins: early fall
Seed Banking: Information Not Found
Cold Stratification Required: yes
Seed Type/Dispersal Distance/Agent: drupe/ variable/ birds, water
Season of Germination: spring
Seedling Rooting System: shallow
Sprouting: common on small stems
Establishment Seedbed Preferences:
Substrate: variable
Light: overstory shade
Moisture: moist required
Temperature: neutral
Disturbance response:
Fire: Sugarberry grows on bottomland sites, where fire rarely occurs. It has invaded former grasslands where fire has been suppressed. A thin-barked species, sugarberry is sensitive to topkilling from fire. Low-intensity fires will kill or topkill seedlings and saplings, and topkill larger trees; intense fires may kill even the largest trees. Wounding by fire increases susceptibility to butt rot. Seedlings and saplings sprout from adventitious buds in the root collar. Seedling establishment may occur from surviving trees onsite or from offsite seeds carried by birds and other animals.
Weather: Ice damages sugarberry crowns, creating entryways for rot.
Air pollution: Symptoms of foliar injury have been noted in areas of high ambient ozone.