Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Honey locust, thornless honey locust
Honey locust is native to central North America. Outside of its natural range, it can be a nuisance, spreading rapidly. It is not recommended as a landscape plant.
Plants: 66–98′ (20–30 m) tall, with a trunk up to 3′ (91 cm) in diameter. The trunk and branches commonly have thorns 2–4″ (6–10 cm) long, though thornless cultivars exist.
Leaves: Young trees have bipinnate leaves, while older trees have pinnate leaves. Leaflets are ½–1¼″ (1.4–3.6 cm).
Flowers: Racemes 1–2½″ (3–7 cm) long, with tiny greenish-yellow to greenish-white flowers.
Fruits: Like other legumes, fruits are flat pods that mature in early autumn. Each pod is often twisted or curved, and 2½–14 ⨉ ½–1″ (7–35 ⨉ 1.5–3 cm), with up to 20 dark brown oval seeds. Each seed is about ¾″ (2 cm) long.
Habitats: Prefers full sun areas with moist, well-drained loamy soils. It can tolerate alkaline and clay soils, dry sites, road salt, wet sites, and occasional flooding.
Online References:
Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis (L.) C.K. Schneid.
9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts 
ID is uncertain 
This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia · ≈ 17 × 11″ (42 × 28 cm) 
5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, Maryland · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain 
5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, Maryland · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain 
10/31/2024 · Dr. Hoffert's Land, Selkirk, New York 
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts 
9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, Maryland · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) 
9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, Maryland · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain 
This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts 
9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia · ≈ 13 × 9″ (34 × 22 cm) 
This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm) 
9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia · ≈ 14 × 10″ (36 × 24 cm) 
9/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
10/31/2024 · Dr. Hoffert's Land, Selkirk, New York 
This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
10/31/2024 · Dr. Hoffert's Land, Selkirk, New York 
9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fabales | Legumes (pea and bean families) |
| Family | Fabaceae | Legume family (peas and beans) |
| Genus | Gleditsia | Named for German botanist Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch (1714-1786) |
| Species | triacanthos | Three-spined |
Gleditsia triacanthos description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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