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Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos): Native Tree with Ferny Foliage & Interesting Pods

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) grows wild from Pennsylvania to Iowa, south to Georgia and Texas. Large, spreading deciduous tree with elegant form and pinnate ferny leaves casting dappled shade.

Features & Culture

Flowers inconspicuous but followed by unusual large twisted seed pods. Fall color can be nice yellow. Species has thorny trunk; thornless cultivars available. Native to eastern/central U.S. Ferny foliage doesn't produce heavy leaf litter. Adaptable to various conditions. Full sun, any fertile well-drained soil.

Propagation & Problems

Scarify seed, sow in containers fall in open frame. Cultivars budded in summer or grafted late winter. Many potential pests/diseases: tar spot, powdery mildew, cankers, leaf spot, heart rot, root rot, various insects.

Quick Reference

Height/Spread: Over 30 ft.
Growth Pace: Fast
Light: Full sun only
Moisture: Adaptable
Maintenance: Moderate
Attributes: Native, showy foliage & seed heads
Uses: Specimen

Other: Starting a Nectarine Tree from Seed in North Texas: Worth the Effort?; Transplanting Sprouted Avocado Seeds from Water to Soil; Growing Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) from Seed: A Step-by-Step Guide; Garlic "Seeds": The Flower Head Isn't Seed—Plant Cloves Instead; Growing a Peach Tree from a Grocery Store Pit: Stratification & Care; Planting Grass Seed for Erosion Control on a Riverfront Property in North Carolina; Is It Too Late to Plant Watermelon from Seed in Pennsylvania?; Hybrid vs. Heirloom Tomato Seeds: What Happens When You Save Them?; Lathyrus tingitanus: Tangier Pea with Sweet Pea-Like Flowers; Growing Honeylocust (Gleditsia): Graceful Shade Trees

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