Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos
Fabaceae
Gleditsia triacanthos leaf 2CEH
Gleditsia triacanthos bark
Gleditsia triacanthos form
Gleditsia triacanthos fruit
Produces thorns on trunk and branches, thornless varieties in cultivation. Tolerates disturbance and urban conditions. Not suitable for restoration plantings. Seed pod production may be messy to clean up. Small leaflets do not require raking in fall.

Summary

Climate Tolerance
Good
Wildlife Benefits
Nectar/pollen source for bees, butterflies; pods food source for mammals, some birds
Pollination Type
Pollinator
Plant Hardiness Zones
3 to 8
# Butterfly/Moths that use as host
47
Bloom Time
Spring (May-Jun)
Shade/Sun Tolerance
Full Sun: Receives 6 or more hours of direct sunlight
Maximum Height
Medium (40-75 ft)
Growth Rate
Rapid: 2 ft or greater per year
Soil Type
Clay: Small sized particles. Long moisture retention and low nutrient availability.
Loam: Equal mix of clay, sand, and silt. Moderate moisture retention and high nutrient availability.
Sand: Large/coarse particles. Short moisture retention and low nutrient availability.
Silt: Medium sized particles. Moderate moisture retention and high nutrient availability.
Soil Moisture Tolerance
Moist: Soil can remain damp and does not normally retain standing water
Root - Fungal Association
Arbuscular mycorrhizae: Symbiotic relationship with fungi that exist on inside of plant root cells, facilitating nutrient uptake
Pest & Pathogen Risks
Medium; Trunk and root canker, webworms
Urban Stress Tolerance
High: Tree can adapt to a variety of urban conditions and will grow well
Drought Tolerance
Tolerant: Tree will not become stressed during periods of drought
Coefficient of Conservatism
4
Native Status
OH-Native: Species is native to Ohio
NatureServe G-rank
G5
Plant Community Type
  • Beech Mixed: Absent
  • Oak Mixed: Absent
  • Alluvial: Occasional
  • Red Maple Mixed: Occasional
  • Ruderal: Absent
  • Urban Tree Cover: Common
Bloom Color
Yellow
Form
Tree
Lifespan
Medium: 100-250 years
Soil pH
Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Wetland Indicator Status
FAC: Facultative, occurs in wetlands and non-wetlands
Soil Compaction Tolerance
Tolerant: Tree will not become stressed from soil being compacted
Heat Tolerance
Tolerant: Tree will not become stressed for increased temperature due to urban heat island effects
Salt Tolerant
Tolerant to Salt in Soil: Tree will not become stressed when salt is present in soil
Native County Status
Cuyahoga
Geauga
Lake
Lorain
Medina
Portage
Summit
IUCN Red List Assessment
Least Concern

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