Photo credits and licenses
Real photographs from naturalists and photographers worldwide, each used under its own license. Credit: Photo by Lisa Bennett / iNaturalist (CC BY) and Photo by Lisa Bennett / iNaturalist (CC BY). How photos are sourced →
Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Honeylocust is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
This entry comes from our curated library and has not yet been independently checked against outside sources. Curated is not unreliable: a standing audit keeps every entry internally consistent, and the source-by-source check is working through the whole library in the open.
Growing Honeylocust
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 49 ft tall and 39 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 20 years.
When to plant Honeylocust
Plant Honeylocust in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Good to know about Honeylocust
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
The fine ferny canopy casts light dappled shade open enough that turf grows beneath it, and the tiny leaflets sift into the lawn so it needs little raking. per NC State
Size depends on the type
The wild species reaches 18 to 24 m, but the thornless landscape cultivars you actually plant stay smaller, commonly 9 to 14 m. per NC State
Plant a thornless cultivar
Almost all planted honeylocust is the thornless, podless var. inermis (Latin 'unarmed'), such as 'Shademaster' or 'Skyline'. The thorny, messy wild species is not recommended. per Morton Arboretum
Tough, adaptable urban tree
One of the toughest city trees: it tolerates salt, drought, wind, soil compaction, poor soils, heat, air pollution and even periodic flooding. per University of Illinois
Avoid 'Sunburst' where pests threaten
Mimosa webworm is often the worst pest, webbing and browning the foliage. 'Sunburst' is very susceptible; 'Moraine', 'Skyline' and 'Shademaster' resist it better. per NC State
Clean gold fall color
Foliage turns gold to clear yellow in autumn, sometimes fading to cream or tan, a reliable and clean fall display. per NC State
What pairs well with Honeylocust
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Trumpet Vine
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; both are native plants.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both are native plants.
Douglas Fir
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both are native plants.
Explore similar plants
You might also like
Foliage
Foliage
Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.