{"product_id":"prairie-sentinel-hackberry","title":"Prairie Sentinel Hackberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Bombproof Native Shade Tree in a Narrow Column\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrairie Sentinel Hackberry (\u003cem\u003eCeltis occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'JFS-KSU1') takes one of the toughest native trees on the prairie and packs it into the narrowest hackberry form available — a tightly columnar selection just 12 to 15 feet wide at 40 to 45 feet tall. Bred at Kansas State, it pairs the species' legendary durability — it shrugs off drought, wind, road salt, clay, and brutal cold — with a slim, fastigiate habit ideal for boulevards and narrow side yards where a spreading shade tree won't fit. Hardy to zone 3 and essentially indestructible, it's a low-maintenance workhorse. Whether you're lining a boulevard in St. Paul, screening a tight lot in Plymouth, or adding vertical native shade in Woodbury, Prairie Sentinel does the heavy lifting in a small footprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrairie Sentinel Hackberry Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eCeltis occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'JFS-KSU1' (Prairie Sentinel)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Sentinel Hackberry, Columnar Hackberry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–45 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–15 feet — tightly columnar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for best form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Highly drought-tolerant once established.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — extremely hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExceptionally adaptable. Tolerates clay, sand, drought, wet sites, high pH, and road salt.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — clean green leaves turning yellow in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall berry-like drupes relished by birds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood — generally not a preferred browse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA columnar selection of \u003cem\u003eCeltis occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e, a Minnesota native\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrairie Sentinel Hackberry Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Boulevards and Street Trees\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHackberry is one of the toughest urban trees there is, and Prairie Sentinel's tight 12–15 foot width makes it ideal for boulevards, parking strips, and street-side spots where a wide canopy would crowd the space. It tolerates the salt, compaction, and reflected heat that kill lesser trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTall Narrow Shade and Screening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40–45 feet tall but slim, it provides vertical shade and screening on narrow lots and along property lines in close-set suburbs like Richfield or St. Louis Park. Plant a row for a tall, space-saving living screen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Native Workhorse\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a selection of our native hackberry, it brings genuine durability and wildlife value — the small fruits feed birds, and the tree withstands drought, wind, wet soil, and bitter cold with ease. It's a plant-it-and-forget-it native for difficult sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Prairie Sentinel Hackberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHackberry is deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works well. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting when heat stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Prairie Sentinel Hackberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — hackberry tolerates both wet and dry, but set the crown at grade and avoid standing water at planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Space trees 8–12 feet apart for a narrow screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk the first winter or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Prairie Sentinel Hackberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Prairie Sentinel Hackberry is exceptionally drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water only during prolonged dry spells. Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during extended drought, and otherwise let natural rainfall do the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Prairie Sentinel Hackberry survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — it's hardy to about -40°F and is one of the toughest trees you can plant here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow narrow does it stay?\u003c\/strong\u003e Just 12–15 feet wide at 40–45 feet tall — the narrowest hackberry available, ideal for boulevards and tight spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is hackberry so tough?\u003c\/strong\u003e It tolerates drought, wind, road salt, compacted soil, high pH, and both wet and dry sites — a remarkably adaptable native that thrives where many trees fail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's a columnar selection of \u003cem\u003eCeltis occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e, a native hackberry, so it offers native toughness and bird-friendly fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Hackberry\u003c\/strong\u003e — the classic broad-crowned native hackberry for tough sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSwedish Columnar Aspen\u003c\/strong\u003e — another narrow columnar tree for fast, slim screening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEye Stopper Cork Tree\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough, seedless shade tree with striking corky bark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunburst Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast, fine-textured shade tree with golden new growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Prairie Sentinel Hackberry Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a tall narrow screen or boulevard row, space trees 8–12 feet apart on center; the tight columns close ranks within a few seasons. As a single vertical accent or street tree, give it 12–15 feet of clearance from buildings and wires-free overhead space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRow Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrees at 10-ft Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrairie Sentinel Hackberry Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out reliably with clean green foliage on the tight column; inconspicuous flowers set the stage for fall fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense pillar of green that shrugs off heat, drought, wind, and boulevard salt residue — no summer babying required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns yellow while small berry-like drupes ripen — robins, cedar waxwings, and other songbirds strip them through autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The narrow silhouette and developing corky, ridged bark stand up to -40°F, snow load, and salt spray without complaint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/common-hackberry\"\u003eCommon Hackberry\u003c\/a\u003e — the broad-crowned parent species where you have room to spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/swedish-columnar-aspen\"\u003eSwedish Columnar Aspen\u003c\/a\u003e — a faster columnar partner to mix into a narrow screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/eye-stopper-cork-tree\"\u003eEye Stopper Cork Tree\u003c\/a\u003e — tough, seedless shade with showy corky bark for the open yard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sunburst-honeylocust\"\u003eSunburst Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — golden fine-textured foliage to contrast the hackberry's dense column.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Prairie Sentinel Hackberry Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you need a no-excuses vertical tree for a brutal spot — boulevard strips, salty street edges, windy exposed lots, heavy clay, or drought-prone sand — and want native wildlife value in a 12–15 foot footprint. It's not a fit if you're after showy flowers or knockout fall color; this tree's beauty is quiet, and its value is in being absolutely dependable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260811956529,"sku":"GT-T1373.2","price":452.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260811989297,"sku":"GT-T1373.4","price":507.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/prairie-sentinel-hackberry.jpg?v=1779426685","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/prairie-sentinel-hackberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}