Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis honey locust - thornfree

Inermis is a very elegant forma of honey locust with no thorns! They can be found on the species, not on this plant, and are very dangerous, so nothing to worry about here.

It has bright green, fern-like leaves that are pinnate and bipinnate, both types often occurring on the same tree. They are 20-25 cm long and make the plant look almost exotic. The foliage is dramatic in autumn when it turns bright golden-yellow. In mid spring appear bright green flowers composed in short catkin-like racemes. They are fragrant - they smell like ginger-bread, and are highly melliferous which makes the tree one of the most important for beekeepers .

It is a medium or large tree with a crown, or it can be sparsely branched from the base. In 20 years it will grow about 6-8 meters tall. The canopy of young trees makes an open V shape, and with age it opens wider and the branches change to almost horizontal. Even when the tree is densely foliaged it provides so-called filtered sunlight i.e. does not make a dark shade, thus allowing shrubs and other plants which prefer partial shade live underneath.

Another advantage of this beautiful tree is its adaptability. It is soil and pollution tolerant, and can live happily in urban areas with limited moisture in summer, and practically no fertilizing. Though, in private gardens it will be grateful for moist, deep, fertile soil. Honey locust needs a sunny location. Fully hardy to -40°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update 03-02-2008; 02-01-2019