Tree Almanac

Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

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Sunlit tree canopy with dappled light
copyright

By Plant Image Library from Boston, USA - Gleditsia triacanthos (Honeylocust), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84938405

Great for streets and courtyards. Its fine leaflets give cooling without heavy litter. Choose thornless cultivars for public spaces.

street-safelight shadenitrogen fixer

Quick facts

Family
Fabaceae
Regions
Temperate, Semi-arid
Climate fit
Hot summers, cold winters
Water need
medium
Height
12-18 m
Spread
10-15 m

Care playbook

  • Deep water weekly in first 2 summers; then every 2–3 weeks in heat.
  • Formative pruning to keep strong central leader.
  • Inspect for webworm; remove early nests.

Threats to watch

  • Webworm
  • Canker on stressed trees