Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Also listed as Acacia villaregalis, Caesalpiniodes triacanthum
Also known as Common Honeylocust, Honey Locust Tree, Thorny Locust
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing deciduous tree with feathery, fern-like foliage that casts dappled shade and turns yellow in fall. Thornless cultivars are popular for landscapes, producing small greenish flowers followed by long seed pods.
Why grow it
Honey locust offers fine-textured, dappled shade that allows understory plants to thrive, making it valuable in polyculture systems where light penetration matters. Compared to other legumes used in permaculture, it establishes quickly and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including poor or compacted ground. Thornless cultivars eliminate a significant management burden while still providing nitrogen fixation and edible pods that livestock can browse.
Watch out for
Honey locust can spread aggressively via root suckers in disturbed areas, so plan for periodic suckering management if you want to contain it. In some regions, native populations of the spiny species exist, so verify local cultivar recommendations to avoid unintended ecological impacts. The feathery foliage, while attractive, drops late in fall and can create maintenance considerations in ornamental settings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Central and eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A fast-growing deciduous tree with feathery, fern-like foliage that casts dappled shade and turns yellow in fall. Thornless cultivars are popular for landscapes, producing small greenish flowers followed by long seed pods.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Honey Locust grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Honey locust offers fine-textured, dappled shade that allows understory plants to thrive, making it valuable in polyculture systems where light penetration matters. Compared to other legumes used in permaculture, it establishes quickly and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including poor or compacted ground. Thornless cultivars eliminate a significant management burden while still providing nitrogen fixation and edible pods that livestock can browse.
Watch out for
Honey locust can spread aggressively via root suckers in disturbed areas, so plan for periodic suckering management if you want to contain it. In some regions, native populations of the spiny species exist, so verify local cultivar recommendations to avoid unintended ecological impacts. The feathery foliage, while attractive, drops late in fall and can create maintenance considerations in ornamental settings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Central and eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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