Honey Locust

Honey Locust 'Elegantissima' (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Elegantissima') is the dwarf, thornless form of a tree most people know as far too big for a suburban block. It grows to about 4m tall and 2.5m across, holds an upright shrubby shape, and carries fine ferny foliage that turns clear gold before winter. For a small garden that wants a deciduous feature with texture rather than bulk, it is hard to better.

Why you'll love it

• Small enough for a courtyard. At 4m by 2.5m it is a fraction of the size of the species, so it suits gardens where a shade tree would be a mistake.
• Completely thornless. The inermis form carries none of the vicious thorns of wild honey locust, which matters near paths and play areas.
• Fine textured foliage. Ferny compound leaves cast light dappled shade rather than dense cover, so planting can continue underneath.
• Very tough. Frost, drought, heat and wind tolerant, and content in poor soil, including hot inland gardens.

Where it works best

Small gardens and courtyards. It gives the structure of a tree at a scale that will not overhang a fence line or shade out a neighbouring garden bed.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider will hold it for years, and container growing naturally keeps it toward the lower end of its size range.

Feature planting. The combination of ferny summer foliage, gold autumn colour and a bare winter framework gives three distinct looks from one plant.

Growing Honey Locust 'Elegantissima' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens, from Melbourne and Adelaide to Perth and inland districts. It is frost hardy, and does not perform in humid tropical gardens.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It handles poor, compacted and alkaline soils that defeat most ornamental trees. Work compost through the backfill and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only through long dry spells. It is genuinely drought tolerant once established. One complete slow release feed each spring is plenty.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while the plant is bare and the structure is visible. Thin crowded stems and shorten any branch spoiling the shape. It takes equally well to being kept multi stemmed or trained to a short single trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: a 400mm pot, a 45L, and a 100L that is currently on backorder. The 400mm and 45L plants are young and often multi stemmed, and they establish quickly. The 100L gives you a couple of extra years of height and needs two people to move into place.

Being deciduous, it may arrive bare or with very little leaf depending on the season, and that is not a fault. Expect the first season to go into roots, then steady growth. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants chosen for small gardens
• Browse the full deciduous tree range
• Compare plants grown for autumn colour
• Trees and shrubs that do well in pots

Common questions

Is this the same as the big honey locust street tree?

No. It is a dwarf selection of the thornless variety and settles at around 4m, not the 15m or more the species reaches. Expect a large shrub or very small tree, not a shade canopy.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes. Use a pot at least 500mm wide with good drainage, refresh the top layer of mix each spring, and root prune every three or four years. Potted plants stay closer to 2m or 3m.

Does it really lose its leaves?

Yes, it is fully deciduous. The foliage turns gold in autumn and the plant stands bare through winter, which is useful if you want sun on a window in the cold months.