Photo: Oscar GonzálezCC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Spiny Hackberry Plant Care
Chloracantha spinosa (Benth.) G.L.Nesom
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Chloracantha is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the aster family, containing the single species Chloracantha spinosa. It is distributed in the southwestern and south-central United States (CA NV AZ UT NM TX OK LA), most of Mexico, and much of Central America. Its English language common names include spiny chloracantha, spiny aster, devilweed aster, and Mexican devilweed. In Spanish it is known as espina de agua, espinaza, and espinosilla.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Spiny Hackberry?
Spiny Hackberry grows best in full sun to partial shade.
What Is the Spiny Hackberry?
Spiny Hackberry (Chloracantha spinosa) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Chloracantha genus. Spiny Hackberry is also known as Aster spinosus, Aster spinosus var. jaliscensis, Aster spinosus var. spinosissimus.
Spiny Hackberry displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Spiny Hackberry produces small daisy-like flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the Spiny Hackberry Need?
Spiny Hackberry thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Spiny Hackberry?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Spiny Hackberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Spiny Hackberry?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Spiny Hackberry?
Spiny Hackberry can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets.
Is the Spiny Hackberry Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Spiny Hackberry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Spiny Hackberry?
Spiny Hackberry is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, 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.
Keep exploring plants
Spiny Hackberry is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Chloracantha genus — compare its care with other Chloracantha species on PlantoScan.
Chloracantha is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Spiny Hackberry thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Chloracantha spinosa (Benth.) G.L.Nesom, family Asteraceae (first published in Phytologia 70: 378 (1991)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Spiny Hackberry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Oscar González, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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