Honey locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
HighSecondary
Fast biomassNitrogen fixer
A fast nitrogen-fixing shade tree with a light, dappled canopy and rot-resistant wood — great for mulch and nurse cover. Thorny and spread-prone, so manage it tightly.
Tolerances & traits
- Strata
- High
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Loam, Sandy, Clay
- Soil pH range
- 6 – 8
- Min. temperature
- -30°C
- Min. rainfall
- 500 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
How to manage it
Coppices and pollards vigorously for mulch; the light canopy suits understory crops. Prefer thornless cultivars (e.g. Inermis) near paths and for easier handling.
Watch out for
Thorny on wild types; seeds and pods can be toxic to livestock in quantity. Suckers and self-seeds — invasive in parts of North America, Australia and South Africa; check local status.
Design your line to see how your land fits Honey locust.
Start designing your line →Related species