Gleditsia triacanthos

RHS Plant Profile
thorny locust

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Other common names

honey locust, sweet locust, three-thorned acacia

Trees
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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

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam, Clay, Chalk

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam Clay Chalk
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral or Acid or Alkaline

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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