Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000673
11/12/99

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis--Thornless Common Honeylocust


Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Height: 45 ft Spread: 45 ft Form: irregular
Type: deciduous tree
Annual Growth Rate: more than 18 inches

Comments: The species has undesirable thorns (Vis. 9) and
large seed pods (Vis. 8) but cultivars are both thornless
and seedless. The tree (Vis. 6) is strong wooded and casts
light shade. Lawns grow well beneath Honeylocust and there
are few leaves (Vis. 7) to rake up in the fall. The tree
has no particular soil preferences and is useful in dry
areas. Honeylocust has a yellow fall color.

Cultivars:
'Christie' (Halka TM) - A rounded tree with a vigorous
growth habit and a full, symmetrical crown.
'Continental' - A vigorous variety with a narrow crown
and large but finely cut leaves that are dark blue-
green.
'Emerald Kascade' - A weeping form (Vis. 1) with rich
green foliage that turns yellow in the fall.
'Impcole' (Imperial TM) - A rounded tree that is
somewhat smaller than other cultivars. Wide branch
angles are resistant to storm damage.
'Moraine' - A vase-shaped branching structure and shape
becomes rounded at the top with age. Golden fall
foliage color.
'Rubylace' - The foliage at the tips of the branches is
red but darkens to reddish-green as the foliage ages.
Some staking and training may be necessary when the
tree is young.
'Shademaster' - An irregularly shaped (Vis. 2) tree with
an upright branching structure.
'Skycole' (Skyline(R))(Plant Patent 1619) - A broadly
pyramidal tree with good environmental tolerance.
'Speczam' (Spectrum TM) - A cultivar with yellow
foliage (Vis. 3) well into the growing season.
'Summer Lace' - An upright branching habit forms a
rounded head. A strong grower with contrasting light
green to dark green foliage.
'Suncole' (Sunburst(R))(Plant Patent 1313) - An
irregularly shaped tree that (Vis. 4) has tufts of
yellow foliage at the branch tips (Vis. 5). A favorite
of plant bugs and leafhoppers the feeding of which
causes leaf drop.
'True Shade' - A vigorous tree with a broadly oval
crown and branch angles that are close to the ideal
of 45 degrees.

References for Cultivars: J. Frank Schmidt and Son 1999,
Bailey Nurseries 1999, Princeton Nurseries 1999, Lake
County Nursery 1999, Weston Nurseries 1999, Ray Wiegand's
Nursery 1999, Sheridan Nurseries 1999, Moller's Nursery
1997, Studebaker Nurseries 1999, Scarff's Nursery 1999, Gee
Farms 1999, Willoway Nurseries 1999, Carlton Plants 1999.


Go To Top of File        Michigan State University Extension Home Page        Main Page for this Data Base        MNLA Web Site
This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00. Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99. For more information about this data base or its contents please contact heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our disclaimer for important information about using our site.