Thornless Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
A refined version of the native honeylocust that eliminates the troublesome thorns while keeping all the best qualities of this adaptable shade tree. Its delicate, compound leaves create dappled shade perfect for growing grass underneath, while the small leaflets practically disappear into the lawn come fall. Extremely tough and drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for challenging urban environments.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
60-80 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Thornless Honeylocust in USDA Zone 7
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Thornless Honeylocust · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Gleditsia triacanthos var inermisThornless variety and source of all species cultivars. 'Harve’Medium to large, thornless and seedless, winter hardy. 'Impcole'AKA IMPERIAL, thornless, nearly seedless, rounded compact form 30' to 40' tall. 'Skyline'Pyramidal growth with a central leader, thornless and nearly seedless, grows to 40' to 45' tall. 'Sunburst'Yellow leaves, fruitless and thornless var. inermis No thorns, Gleditsia triacanthos var inermis, 'Harve’, 'Impcole', 'Skyline', 'Sunburst', var. inermis. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Female flowers are replaced by reddish-brown, twisted, flat bean pods 12 to 18 inches long containing oval seeds appear in the summer and can remain on the tree through the winter. Seed pods twist into corkscrew shapes and can be messy to maintain once they fall off the tree. The pods turn black when ripe and contain a sweet-tasting sticky substance that gives Honeylocust its common name.
Color: Brown/Copper, Red/Burgundy. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Winter
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: The pulp inside the seed pod is edible, raw or cooked, but mostly consumed by livestock and wildlife.
History & Origin
Origin: Central and Eastern North America, NC to Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Drought, Pollution
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals
- +Wildlife value: Bean pods are eaten by white-tailed deer, squirrels, rabbits, hogs, opossums, and raccoons, deer browse young shoots in spring and bark of young trees in the winter. Butterflies, bees, and moths nectar at the flowers. It is the larval host plant for the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus).
- +Edible: The pulp inside the seed pod is edible, raw or cooked, but mostly consumed by livestock and wildlife.
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hostas
Thrives in dappled shade under honeylocust canopy, complementary root zones
Wild Ginger
Excellent groundcover for filtered shade, helps retain soil moisture
Coral Bells
Tolerates partial shade and benefits from protection of tree canopy
Astilbe
Prefers partial shade and moist conditions provided by tree's microclimate
Ferns
Natural woodland companions that thrive in filtered light conditions
Serviceberry
Compatible understory tree, both native species support local wildlife
Wild Columbine
Adapted to woodland edges with partial shade and well-draining soil
Virginia Bluebells
Spring ephemeral that completes cycle before full canopy development
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to honeylocust and inhibits growth
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Competes directly for same resources and growing space as fellow large legume tree
Tomatoes
Poor performance in shade and may be sensitive to root competition from large trees
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance, very few problems
Common Pests
Honeylocust plant bug, spider mites, occasionally webworms
Diseases
Generally disease-free, occasional canker issues