# 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. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Parks, Gardens - **Also known as:** Sweet Locust, Thorny Locust ![Honey Locust](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gleditsia_triacanthos_Maryhill_Museum_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kevmin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gleditsia_triacanthos_Maryhill_Museum_01.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Gleditsia ## 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 - **Spiky Shield Power:** Honey Locust has fierce, sharp thorns that help it defend against hungry plant-eaters trying to munch on its tender branches. - **Sweet Pod Lure:** Honey Locust produces sweet, edible pods that attract animals, helping spread its seeds far and wide to grow new trees. - **Root Power:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — consumes sweet seed pods, aiding dispersal - **Shelter:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — often grows alongside in native woodlands - **Shelter:** [Northern Flicker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-flicker) (*Colaptes auratus*) — often nests in cavities or branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/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 ### What kind of fruit does Honey Locust produce? Legume pod ## Where to spot - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Isaac Franklin Plantation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/isaac-franklin-plantation) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site - [Lock and Dam No. 21](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lock-and-dam-no-21) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Market Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/market-square) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [McClellan Creek National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcclellan-creek-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park [View all places to see Honey Locust](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/honey-locust) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Honey Locust: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honey-locust)