Gleditsia triacanthos
thorny locust
A large, elegant, deciduous tree to a height of 30m or more. The trunk and stems are spiny - some of these spines are up to 15cm long. The leaves are made up of many oval-shaped tiny, dark green leaflets, which turn yellow in autumn. Small-green-white flowers are produced in summer and if it has been a long hot summer, long, twisted brown seed pods follow in autumn
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
Wider than 8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Neutral, Acid, AlkalineColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Yellow | Brown | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Genus
Gleditsia are deciduous trees with elegant, pinnate or bipinnate foliage, often on spiny branches, inconspicuous flowers followed by large flattened seed-pods
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows well in any well-drained soil, although especailly good on dry acidic soil, once established. Very tolerant of industrial pollution. For more information, see tree cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seed in autumn in a cold frame, or by whip and tongue grafting in late winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Cottage and informal garden
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to gall midge
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus
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