Gleditsia triacanthos
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Honey Locust
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | 50 to 70 ft | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Yellow | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous | |
| Noted for: | Thorns |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen tree. To avoid insect issues, best not to plant in large numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Very sharp thorns. Tree is short-lived in the southern parts of its range (includes Florida). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Root cuttings. Also coppices readily. Seeds require cold treatment and scarification. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Big box stores, Native nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Clay, Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Slightly acidic to somewhat calcareous. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
The seed pods have edible sweet pulp and are eaten by deer, opossums, squirrels, crows, starlings, and quail. | |
| Insects: | Larval host for Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper) and several moths including Catocala innubens (The Betrothed), Catocala minuta (Little Underwing), and Spiloloma lunilinea (Moon-Lined Moth). Pollinated primarily by small bees and flies. Other insect feeders include the treehoppers, leafhoppers, some bugs, and some beetles. | |
| Native Habitats: | Upper portions of riverine floodplains, fertile uplands, stream banks. Planted in upland areas. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Wood is hard and rot resistant. Used for fence posts. | |
| General Comments: | Very thorny. In the northern parts of its range, a thornless cultivar is planted. |