Celtis sinensis comes from the lowlands and hillsides of Japan and China, where it has been a common roadside and landscape tree for centuries. In cultivation outside its native range it is vigorous — reaching 40 to 50 feet with a broad, round crown — and genuinely tough, tolerating drought, wind, urban conditions, and a wide range of soils from dry to periodically wet. It performs best in full sun and genuine heat; shading encourages underdeveloped wood that is vulnerable to winter dieback. In optimum conditions it is very long-lived. The insignificant spring flowers are followed by small orange to red drupes enjoyed by birds, and the fall foliage is a muted yellow-brown.

The caution with this tree is its behaviour beyond the garden fence. It has been declared a noxious weed in parts of South Africa and Australia, and it has the capacity to naturalise by seed in hospitable climates. The drupes fall to the ground and can be a litter nuisance near paving, and the roots are capable of lifting and damaging driveways and sidewalks — something to factor into siting decisions carefully. Where a hackberry of similar character is wanted for a North American garden, the native American hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) or sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) offer comparable ornamental and ecological value without the ecological uncertainty. This tree is best considered with clear eyes about what it is and where it is going.