Japanese Hackberry Plant Care

Japanese Hackberry (Aphananthe aspera) belongs to the Cannabaceae family within the Aphananthe genus. Japanese Hackberry is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Japanese Hackberry is also known as Rough-leaved Hackberry.

Japanese Hackberry displays a tall, upright tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Japanese Hackberry produces inconspicuous flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Japanese Hackberry every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Japanese Hackberry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Aphananthe aspera tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Japanese Hackberry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Japanese Hackberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Japanese Hackberry every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Japanese Hackberry is suited to USDA Zone 6a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Japanese Hackberry can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Japanese Hackberry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Japanese Hackberry is hardy down to USDA zone 6a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Japanese Hackberry can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to philippine hackberry plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Japanese Hackberry is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Japanese Hackberry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 6a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 6a. Japanese Hackberry is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.