Alphabetical Plant Listing

Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey Locust)

Honey Locust, Common Honey Locust, Thorny Common Honey Locust, Honey Shucks Locust, Sweet Locust, Thorny Locust, Honey Shucks, Sweet Bean Tree, Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis


Fast-growing and long-lived, Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey Locust) is a large, thorny, deciduous tree of a graceful habit with a spreading rounded crown. The bright green feathery foliage is pinnately compound with paired, oblong, glossy leaflets that turn brilliant yellow in fall. The light shade it casts makes underplanting easy. Inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Rich in nectar, they attract bees and butterflies. They are followed by long, twisted, reddish brown seed pods to 18 in. long (45 cm), which persist well into winter. Livestock and mammals consume the honeylike, sweet pulp of the pods. Trunk and branches have stout, solitary or three-branched thorns, 3 in. long (7 cm), that are extremely vicious and not suitable for a domestic landscape. Tolerant of wind, heat, drought and salt, Honey Locust is popular for hedges.

  • Grows up to 60-80 ft. tall and wide (18-24 m). Can spread quickly and become an issue in some pasture areas.
  • A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in organically rich, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay soils. Drought tolerant once established.
  • No routine pruning necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested or crossing shoots.
  • Keep an eye out for leaf spot, canker, witches’ broom, powdery mildew, rust, borers. Deer resistant.
  • Propagate by seed or grafting.
  • Native to central and eastern North America.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20
Plant Type Trees
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Spread 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Prairie and Meadow

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Melissa McMasters, Radu Chibzii, Plant Image Library (Flickr), RussieseO, Furiarossa, LFRabanedo, SenSeHi (Shutterstock)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20
Plant Type Trees
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Spread 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Prairie and Meadow

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