Sunburst Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Suncole' · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Fabaceae (Legume family)
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Ornamental, Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
'Sunburst' (Suncole) - Noted for its thornless nature and bright yellow new growth that matures to green.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9; very adaptable to urban heat and cold.
About This Tree
A medium-sized tree with a broadly rounded, irregular, and open-spreading crown. It features an airy, delicate texture that allows light to filter through. It is a fast-growing cultivar known for its bright golden-yellow leaf tips in the spring.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately or bipinnately compound, 6 to 8 inches long with small, oval leaflets. New growth is bright lemon-yellow, turning lime-green as it matures. Alternate arrangement with fine, fern-like texture.
Bark Characteristics
Dark grayish-brown to black, developing long, flat, scaly ridges separated by deep furrows with age. This cultivar is thornless on the trunk and branches.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Central North America; cultivars adapted widely across temperate zones.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (yellow foliage), flowers in early summer, enters dormancy in late autumn with golden-yellow fall color.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun; moderate water needs but highly drought tolerant once established; adapts to various soil types including alkaline and compacted soils.
Mature Size
35-45 feet height, 30-35 feet spread; fast growth rate; typical lifespan of 50-70 years.
Special Characteristics
Thornless and seedless (podless) cultivar; excellent salt and pollution tolerance; provides 'dappled shade' allowing grass to grow beneath it; high ornamental value due to yellow foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites for birds; flowers attract bees and butterflies; larval host for several moth species. Its open canopy provides a unique microclimate for understory plants.