Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL®

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 40–60 ft tall and 40–60 ft wide, and needs low to medium water. Weak Wood; Animal Damage; Nipple Gall cosmetic.

low to medium water40–60 ft tall and 40–60 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant

Photos

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — (c) Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — mature form — (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — foliage — (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — bloom — no rights reserved

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — fall color — (c) Shelby Lyn Sanders, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® (Celtis occidentalis) — habit — (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY)

At a glance

Rating: Recommended
Botanical name: Celtis occidentalis
Variety / cultivar: Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL®
Type: Tree
Mature size: 40–60 ft tall and 40–60 ft wide
Water needs: low to medium water
Colorado native: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Soil: clay, loam, sandy
Soil pH: 6.0–8.2
Hail tolerance: moderate
Wind tolerance: high
Salt tolerance: high

Site factors to consider

Watch: Weak Wood
Watch: Suckers

Planting & establishment

Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen — winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® good for the Colorado Front Range?: Yes. Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a tree suited to Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
How big does Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® get?: It matures to about 40–60 ft tall and 40–60 ft wide.
How much water does Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® need?: It needs low to medium water once established.
Is Hackberry — Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL® native to Colorado?: No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.