Gleditsia triacanthos

Common Names

Honey Locust, Common Honey Locust, Sweet Locust, Thorny Locust, Thornless Honey Locust, Three-Thorned Acacia

Summary

honey locust is a large deciduous tree native to central and eastern North America, with a broad, spreading crown and leaves that are pinnately or bipinnately compound. It bears stout thorns on the trunk and branches, though thornless cultivars exist for urban plantings, and features long seed pods that persist into winter, with green summer foliage turning yellow in autumn.

It tolerates full sun and well-drained soils, is hardy in zones 3–9, and is tolerant of drought, salt, wind, and challenging conditions. It is commonly used as a street tree, shade tree, or specimen; pruning is typically limited to dead or damaged wood, and thornless cultivars reduce hazards; seed pods may litter, and the wood is dense and durable for posts, timber, and fuel. Propagation can be by seed, cuttings, or grafting, and ecological benefits include attraction of pollinators and wildlife that feed on pods.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

60-80 feet

Spread

60-80 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0 (ideal soil pH)

Bloom Color

Greenish-yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green in summer; yellow in autumn.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to golden-yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast growth, about 40-50 cm per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seed propagation, cuttings, grafting (bud grafting on green material), air layering, root cuttings, in vitro propagation (tissue culture), stump-sprout propagation, suckers, ground budding, top grafted, on its own roots

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and birds