Celtis occidentalis ‘Prairie Sentinel’

Prairie Sentinel Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis ‘Prairie Sentinel’ is a deciduous ornamental tree with a narrow columnar to narrowly oval habit, making it an excellent choice for streetscapes and landscapes where planting space is limited. This cultivar of Common Hackberry is valued for its strong branching, rapid growth, excellent tolerance to urban conditions, and attractive yellow fall color.

The foliage consists of medium to dark green, ovate leaves with serrated margins and a slightly rough texture. In autumn, the foliage turns a clear yellow, providing bright seasonal interest. Small, inconspicuous green flowers appear in spring as the leaves emerge and are followed by small orange to dark purple berries that persist into winter and provide food for wildlife.

Celtis occidentalis ‘Prairie Sentinel’ thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to a wide range of soil conditions, including clay, sandy, alkaline, compacted, and periodically dry soils. It tolerates drought, heat, wind, pollution, and urban stress exceptionally well, making it an outstanding choice for boulevards, streets, parks, parking lots, and residential landscapes.