Gleditsia triacanthos

Sunburst Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Sunburst') opens each spring in bright gold, settles to lime green through summer, then colours again before the leaves drop. It grows quickly to about 10m with a canopy near 7m across, and unlike the wild species it carries no thorns and sets no pods. The shade is light and dappled, so lawn and garden beds still grow underneath.

Why you'll love it

• Gold twice a year. New growth emerges butter yellow, holds lime green over summer, then turns yellow again in autumn.
• Shade you can plant under. The finely divided leaflets filter light rather than blocking it, so grass and shrubs survive beneath the canopy.
• No thorns and no pods. The wild honey locust is armed with spines and drops heavy pods. This selection has neither, so it is safe over a driveway or play area.
• Fast, and tough with it. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and wind tolerant once the roots are away.

Where it works best

Shade over a lawn. A single tree in open lawn is the classic use. Allow about 7m of clear space and keep it well back from the house.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 7m to 8m apart along a drive so the crowns just meet at maturity.

Feature planting. The golden foliage reads strongly against dark brick or a green hedge, so one tree can carry a front garden.

Growing Sunburst Honey Locust in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with room overhead. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and semi-arid gardens, so Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the tablelands and most inland towns. It wants a real winter, so in humid subtropical and tropical gardens the colour is muted.

Soil. Undemanding. It handles alkaline soil and compacted ground that trouble fussier trees, provided drainage is reasonable. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, after which it is genuinely drought tolerant. A complete fertiliser in early spring for the first few years is enough.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare and the structure is easy to read. Establish one clear leader early, remove crossing limbs, and lift the lower branches gradually so you can mow beneath it.

What to expect when it arrives

Six sizes are sold: 300mm and 400mm pots, then 30L, 45L, 100L and 200L. The smaller sizes are young whips with a slender trunk, and at this growth rate they catch up quickly, which makes them the economical choice for an avenue. The 100L and 200L trees arrive with height and a formed head.

This is a deciduous tree, so a winter delivery arrives bare or nearly bare. That looks alarming and is entirely normal; winter is the best time to plant one. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing trees to line a driveway
• Browse fast growing shade trees
• Compare other deciduous trees

Common questions

Does it really have no thorns or seed pods?

Correct. The variety name inermis means unarmed, and this selection is podless too, so there is no spiny litter to rake and nothing to puncture a tyre.

How fast does it grow?

Fast for a shade tree. With water through the warm months expect noticeable height each year, and a useful canopy within about five years from a 45L plant.

Can I grow lawn or garden beds under it?

Yes, and that is one of its real advantages. The leaflets are small and widely spaced, so enough light reaches the ground for grass and shade tolerant shrubs.

Will it colour well in a warm climate?

The spring gold shows anywhere it grows, but the autumn display depends on cool nights. In Melbourne, Canberra and the tablelands it is reliable; warm coastal gardens get a shorter, softer show.