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Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis is often confused with:
Albizia julibrissin Albizia julibrissin
Gleditsia triacanthos Gleditsia triacanthos
Gymnocladus dioicus Bark
Robinia pseudoacacia Robinia pseudoacacia
Styphnolobium japonicum Styphnolobium japonicum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia grandiflora
Itea virginica Itea virginica

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
gleh-DIT-see-uh try-a-KAN-thos IN-er-mis
Description

Large deciduous tree, 60-100' with short trunk and open, spreading crown; fine textured; delicate silhouette. 
Casts light shade; fine leaves result in ease of leaf clean up in fall; easy to transplant This tree is resistant to damage by deer.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Borers and webworms may be problems.  Honey locusts are susceptible to  leaf spot, canker, witches’ broom, powdery mildew and rust.

Family name Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Quick ID Hints:

  • adult leaves pinnately compound
  • juvenile leaves bipinnately compound
  • fruit is dark brown, pendulous pod, often curved or coiled
  • short trunk, fine-textured, spreading crown
  • pubescent midrib on leaf underside
  • 20-30 leaflets per leaf

Prefers full sun, tolerant of poor soil, alkaline soil, salt and drought, easy to transplant. Casts only light shade allowing grass to grow underneath; fall foliage is showy, clear yellow; leaves drop early in fall and leaf out late in spring; rapid growth rate; pest/disease susceptible. 

 

Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Moraine'
    The first thornless honeylocust to be patented; zigzag, broad, spreading habit, graceful outline; fruitless; higher resistance t
  • 'Summer Lace'
  • 'Sunburst'
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#shade tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#wildlife plant#salt tolerant#cover plant#thornless#playground#small mammals#cpp#children's garden#edible seeds#shimmer#pollinator plant#fantz#bird friendly
 
Tree
Tree Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
'Sunburst' Form
'Sunburst' Form CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Moraine'
    The first thornless honeylocust to be patented; zigzag, broad, spreading habit, graceful outline; fruitless; higher resistance t
  • 'Summer Lace'
  • 'Sunburst'
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#shade tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#wildlife plant#salt tolerant#cover plant#thornless#playground#small mammals#cpp#children's garden#edible seeds#shimmer#pollinator plant#fantz#bird friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Gleditsia
    Species:
    triacanthos
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edible fruit
    Fragrance
    Pieces Used in Games
    Shade
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wind Shimmer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Very Dry
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Seed is in the form of a bean-like pod. 7-8" long pod but can be longer, reddish brown to blackish, about 1" wide, margin of pod contracts causing coiling; pod contains shiny, hard, dark brown, oval shaped seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Greenish yellow fragrant flowers in summer; 7-8 in
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    6-8 in. alternate, pinnately or bipinnately compound leaves; bright green summer foliage; yellow to yellow-green fall color, glossy. Juvenile leaves are bipinnately compound; adults are pinnately compound; 20-30 oblong-lanceolate leaflets per leaf, each 1/3 - 1 ½" long and half as wide, slightly serrated; pubescent on midrib underneath.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    Attractive, gray-brown, develops elongated, plate-like patches with furrows in between.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought