Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos

The Honey Locust tree has thorns and sweet pods that animals love to eat. Its leaves turn a beautiful golden color in the fall, making it a lovely sight in parks and gardens.

Habitat: Parks, Gardens

Appearance

The Honey Locust has sharp, often branched thorns on its trunk and branches, making it visually distinct. Its delicate, fern-like leaves turn golden in autumn, and it produces long, flattened, purplish-brown seed pods.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusGleditsia

Photo: KevminCC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Honey Locust

Interesting facts

Ancient animals like mammoths might have helped spread Honey Locust seeds!

Early settlers used Honey Locust thorns as needles and nails!

Its wood is very hard, once used for fence posts and furniture!

Some Honey Locust varieties are thornless, perfect for parks!

Special abilities

Honey Locust has fierce, sharp thorns that help it defend against hungry plant-eaters trying to munch on its tender branches.

Honey Locust produces sweet, edible pods that attract animals, helping spread its seeds far and wide to grow new trees.

Honey Locust has incredibly tough roots that help it survive in dry soil and even polluted city environments.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-30 m
Spread: 10-15 m
Edible: Yes
Size: 60-90 cm
Lifespan: 80-120 years
Fruit Type: Legume pod
Growth Rate: Fast
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

Parasitizes

Honey Locust Pod Gall Midge

Dasineura gleditschiae

larvae cause galls on leaves

Eats

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

consumes sweet seed pods, aiding dispersal

Shelter

White Oak

Quercus alba

often grows alongside in native woodlands

Shelter

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

often nests in cavities or branches

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Thorny Stem

Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.

Fall Color

Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.

Urban Friendly

This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

Also known as

Sweet LocustThorny Locust

Collections

Plants Trees

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Watch out for the thorns on the Honey Locust tree and avoid touching them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Honey Locust?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Honey Locust?

15-30 m

How wide does Honey Locust spread?

10-15 m

Is Honey Locust edible?

Yes

How big is Honey Locust?

60-90 cm

How long does Honey Locust live?

80-120 years

Where is Honey Locust usually found?

Parks, Gardens