How to Grow and Care for Honey locusts

Gleditsia triacanthos is a deciduous tree that is native to the central part of North America. The trunk of the honey locust is covered in thorns that are soft and green when young, but age to be hard and brittle. These thorns are relatively large and can reach up to 20 cm in length.

A flowering deciduous tree native to valley streams across China, chinese Honeylocust (Gleditsia sinensis) has also been introduced to the mountainous regions of India and Pakistan. The pulp inside the seed pods can be used as a detergent. The plant also forms good windbreaks and barrier hedges.

Gleditsia aquatica often grows 15 to 18 m. It is commonly found in swamps and prefers partial sun. Like the other plants in its family (Fabaceae) it produces a flat legume (pod). However, these pods usually only hold one seed. The leaves are usually simple-compounded, but sometimes appears Acacia.

Japanese honey locust is a deciduous tree native to Japan, appreciated for its elegant, spreading canopy and fine, bipinnate leaves that create a light, dappled shade. In the right conditions, this tree can produce long, twisted seed pods that add visual interest. Though moderately tolerant of pollution and various soil types, japanese honey locust thrives best in well-drained, fertile environments, which allow it to exhibit its full ornamental potential.

The stunning honey locust 'Sunburst' has a bright sunburst of golden-yellow leaves that shade to a deeper green in the summer months. This hybrid grows to a maximum height of 21 m, which is more suitable for landscaped gardens than the parent tree's height of 30 m. In 1993 this tree was given the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.