Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis · Deciduous Broadleaf
Plant Family
Fabaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
inermis (Thornless variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
About This Tree
A medium-sized deciduous tree with a spreading, open-growth habit and a delicate, feathery crown that provides light, dappled shade. It features a short trunk and a broad, flat-topped to rounded canopy at maturity.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately or bipinnately compound; 6-8 inches long with small, oval leaflets roughly 0.5-1 inch long. Leaves are alternate, bright green in summer, and turn a crisp golden-yellow in autumn before dropping early.
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown to black; smooth on young trees, developing long, narrow, scaly ridges and deep furrows with age. This cultivar is notable for lacking the large branched thorns of the parent species.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Central North America
Growing Season
Late leaf-out in spring, small greenish-yellow flowers in May-June, golden yellow fall color, late fall dormancy.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (6+ hours); moderate water needs with high drought tolerance once established. Adaptable to various soil moistures.
Mature Size
40-70 feet tall with a similar spread of 30-50 feet. Fast growth rate, typically reaching 30 feet in 10-15 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly tolerant of urban conditions including salt, heat, and alkaline soils. The 'inermis' variety is preferred for landscaping as it is thornless and often seedless (fruitless) in many cultivars like 'Skyline' or 'Sunburst'.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides light shade that allows grass to grow beneath. Flowers are a source of nectar for bees and butterflies. While the wild species provides seed pods for mammals, many landscape cultivars are sterile to reduce litter.