Prairie Sentinel® Hackberry

Prairie Sentinel® is a narrowly columnar selection of common hackberry for sites where a broad canopy will not fit. Its breeder lists a mature height of 45 feet and spread of 12 feet, with medium-green leaves and yellow fall color. ## Selection and form The [J. Frank Schmidt profile](https://jfschmidt.com/all-trees/introductions/prairie-sentinel-hackberry/) identifies the selection as *Celtis occidentalis* ‘JFS-KSU1’ and describes a tightly fastigiate habit. The cultivar code remains part of the botanical identity; Prairie Sentinel® is the marketed name. The breeder reports USDA Zone 4 and adaptation to prairie cold, heat, drought, and harsh urban settings. ## Siting Give this tree full sun or part shade and room for its narrow crown to reach the listed spread. Its compact width can suit constrained streets and urban plantings where a broad hackberry would outgrow the space. Its 45-foot mature height still calls for overhead clearance. ## Maintenance Allow the naturally fastigiate crown to develop and plan pruning around sound structure and site clearance. The breeder emphasizes the columnar form and harsh-site adaptability but does not provide a cultivar-specific pruning calendar.