Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Honey Locust
Scientific Name: Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Family: Fabaceae

Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 339. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset: 1-16,18-20
USDA: 3-10

Sun Exposure: Full sun
Origin: East-Central United States
Growth Habits: Deciduous tree, moderately fast growing to 50 to 100 feet tall (15-30 m) or more; thorny trunk and lower branches; the leaves are 6 to 8 inches long (15-20 cm), pinnately compound with 15 to 30 leaflets or bipinnately compound with 4 to 7 pairs of pinnae
Watering Needs: Little to moderate water
Propagation: Seeds, grafting, budding, and cuttings (hardwood, softwood, and root cuttings)

Unlike most leguminous species, honey-locust does not form Rhizobium nodules on its roots, and does not fix nitrogen

Blooming Habits:
Very fragrant white-green flowers, on 2 inch long racemes, from May to June, after the leaves are nearly full grown. The fruit is a 8 to 16 inches long (15-40 cm) and 1 to 1.4 inches wide (2.5-3.5 cm) flattened, red-brown pod

Propagation:
Seeds should be scarified (both hot water and acid treatments are effective)

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