Honey Locust

Info

The Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. They can reach a height of 65-100 feet, with fast growth, and are relatively short-lived; on average about 120 years, some living up to 150. The leaflets are 1.5-2.5 cm and bright green turning yellow in the fall. The strongly scented cream-colored flowers appear in late spring.

The fruit of the Honey locust is a flat legume that matures between September and October. The pods are between 15-20 cm; the pulp on the insides of the pods is edible. Honey locusts commonly have thorns 10-20 cm long growing out of the branches; these may be single, or branched into several points, and commonly form dense clusters. The thorns are fairly soft and green when young, harden and turn red as they age, then fade to ash grey and turn brittle when mature.

Despite its name, Honey locust is not a significant honey plant. The name derives from the sweet taste of the legume pulp, which was used for food by Native American people, and can also be fermented to make beer.

Varieties

  • Ruby Lace

    Very attractive, hardy, deciduous tree. Beautiful ruby colored leaves in spring. Requires full sun and well drained soil. Mature height can reach 15 feet.

  • Shademaster

    Hardy, fast-growing deciduous tree. Proven to be tolerant of drought. Dark green foliage turns yellow in fall. Mature height can reach 50-75 feet.

Care and Maintenance

  1. Preparing the Hole

    Dig the hole as deep as the root ball, and as much as three times as wide as the diameter of the root ball. Breaking up the soil around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to grow into loose soil to hasten establishment.

  2. Placing Your Tree

    Place the tree carefully in the center of the hole after removing it from the container. The tree's root collar (the bulge right above the root system) should be just above the top of the soil. Don't dig the hole too deep. It is better if the root collar is slightly (1 to 2") higher than ground level because of possible setting.

  3. Filling the Hole

    Carefully fill the hole with soil when the tree is positioned and straight. Fill the hole about 1/3 full and lightly push the soil around the base of the root ball. Fill the remainder of the hole taking care to gently but firmly pack soil to eliminate air pockets that may cause the roots to dry out. Don't plant the tree too deep. Back fill the soil to the height just below the root collar.

  4. Mulching

    Place 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a 2 to 3 foot circle around the tree. Keep the mulch from touching the trunk to keep fungus from growing on the trunk. Mulch can be aged wood chips or bark. Mulch helps keep roots moist and insulates them, and prevents weed growth. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer at the time of planting.

  5. Watering

    Water the tree well as soon as you plant it. Water the tree at least once a week for the first year after planting. A slow, root-saturating, one-hour trickle once a week is recommended for a new tree. The watering schedule should be adjusted accordingly if it rains or is very dry.