Gleditsia tricanthus inermis
gluh-DIT-see-uh try-CAN-thus in-ER-mus

Thornless Honey Locust
Leguminosae (Legume family)
Origin: Eastern United States

Species characteristics:
Form - Deciduous. Medium sized tree, fast growing to 30 - 40' and with a spread to 30', with variable branch angles.

Trunk - Young bark is green and smooth. Mature bark is gray and rough.

Foliage - Very showy foliage. New foliage is a deep golden and visible from a long distance giving the appearance that the tree is in bloom. The fernlike, bipinnately compound leaves are up to 10" long. Opposite pairs of small (up to 1 1/2") oval leaflets develop late in spring and defoliate early in the fall. The yellow spring leaves gradually turn green, while more yellow ones continue to develop into mid-summer, producing a striking two-tone effect.

Flowers/fruit - Flowers are greenish-yellow and not showy but with a pleasant fragrance. The fruit is a 12" brown pod, curved and twisted, with depressions between seeds.

Cultivars: 'Sunburst' has golden yellow foliage; 'Moraine' is the fastest growing, 'Shademaster' holds foliage longer in the fall.

No significant pest problems are known at this time. .

Site suitability:
Sunset zones - 1 - 16, and 18 - 20.

Clearances - Suitable for 6' minimum parkways, medians or cutouts.

Good for street sides, medians, parks and lawns.

Culture considerations:
Does best where seasonal differences are sharp. Subject to damage in soils with high salinity .Slightly drought tolerant when established.

Comments, notes: *NOTE: Only the thornless cultivars are discussed here.