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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

Other common names
honey locust
sweet locust
see morethree-thorned acacia
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Sand
Loam
Clay
Chalk
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Acid, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
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 Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H6
Botanical 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

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to gall midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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