Gleditsia triacanthos, honey locust
1 / 8
Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Gleditsia triacanthos

honey locust

Fabaceae
Central and eastern North America — from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, south to Texas and Mississippi; floodplains, river bottoms, and upland woods

Learn more

At a Glance

TypeTree
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height40-80 feet (12-24 m)
Width30-50 feet (9-15 m)
Maturity18 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsDrought TolerantFragrant (light)
Native to North America
Maintenancelow

Overview

Gleditsia triacanthos is honey locust (thorny locust), a large upright deciduous tree growing 40-80 feet (12-24 m) tall and 30-50 feet (9-15 m) wide with a broad open canopy creating dappled (not dense) shade. Bipinnately compound leaves with numerous small oblong leaflets 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3-3.8 cm) — fine-textured. Turns yellow in fall. Greenish-yellow lightly fragrant flowers in racemes 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) in May-June. In Fabaceae. Native to central and eastern North America. The species type has branched thorns 3-8 inches (7-20 cm) and flat twisted seed pods 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) — plant only thornless seedless cultivars (var. inermis): 'Shademaster', 'Skyline', 'Sunburst'. The fine-textured leaves decompose in place without raking. Honey locust plant bug and mimosa webworm cause cosmetic foliage damage — the primary pest limitation. Overplanted in some regions — diversity recommended. Tolerates salt, compacted soil, alkaline conditions (pH to 8.0), drought, and urban conditions. Non-toxic. Zones 3-9. Full sun. Growth rate is fast.

Native Range

Native to central and eastern North America — from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, south to Texas and Mississippi. Found on floodplains, river bottoms, and upland woods.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a street tree, shade tree, and lawn tree spaced 30-50 feet (9-15 m). Plant thornless seedless cultivars only. Dappled shade (lawn grasses grow beneath). Tolerates urban conditions. Overplanted — consider alternatives for diversity. Non-toxic. Zones 3-9.

How to Identify

Identified by bipinnately compound fine-textured foliage with numerous small leaflets on a large tree with a broad open canopy creating dappled shade. The species type has branched thorns on the trunk — thornless cultivars (var. inermis) lack thorns. Distinguished from Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust — white fragrant flowers, pinnately compound, thorny stipules) by the bipinnate leaves and the greenish-yellow flowers. In Fabaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height40' - 80'
Width/Spread30' - 50'

Reaches mature size in approximately 18 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow
green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SpringSummer
Late spring (May-June). Greenish-yellow small flowers in racemes 2-3 inches (5-7 cm). Lightly fragrant. Nectar-rich. 3 weeks of bloom. Bee-pollinated. Flat twisted seed pods 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) on female trees.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Greenish-yellow, small, in racemes 2-3 inches (5-7 cm); lightly fragrant; nectar-rich

Foliage Description

Bright to medium green, alternate, bipinnately compound with numerous small oblong leaflets 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3-3.8 cm) — fine-textured; turns yellow in fall; leaves are small enough to decompose in place without raking

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysand
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

15-20 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6+ hours). Any well-drained soil pH 5.5-8.0 — tolerates clay, sand, salt, compacted soil, and alkaline conditions. Drought-tolerant once established. Plant only thornless seedless cultivars (var. inermis). Honey locust plant bug and mimosa webworm cause cosmetic damage. Prune in late winter (February-March). Non-toxic. Zones 3-9.

Pruning

Prune in late winter (February-March). Develop a strong central leader when young. Remove dead, crossing, or low-hanging branches. The open spreading canopy is natural and allows filtered light to turf below.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic