Honey Locust

Honey Locust 'Shademaster' (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) is the deciduous shade tree for gardens that want cool summers and sunny winters. It reaches about 10m tall and 8m wide, casting light dappled shade through fine ferny leaflets, then dropping them in autumn to let the winter sun back through. This is the thornless selection, without the vicious spines of the wild species.

Why you'll love it

• Dappled shade, not a black hole. The small leaflets filter light, so lawn and garden beds keep growing right up to the trunk.
• Thornless and safe. Bred without the thorns that make wild honey locust unusable near paths, play areas and driveways.
• Golden autumn colour. The canopy turns clear butter yellow before it drops, and the tiny leaflets sift into the lawn instead of needing raking.
• Tough where other trees give up. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor compacted soil.
• Quick to make a difference. It grows fast, so a young tree starts earning its keep within a few seasons.

Where it works best

Lawn shade tree. The filtered canopy is the reason to plant it. Grass survives beneath it where a dense evergreen leaves bare ground.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart for a matched line. The upright branching lifts clear of vehicles and the canopies knit overhead.

Feature tree for a hot, dry block. On arid and Mediterranean sites where water is limited, it holds a full canopy on far less irrigation than most deciduous shade trees.

Growing Honey Locust in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and it is properly frost hardy. Tropical and subtropical gardens lack the winter chill it needs to colour and rest.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It handles poor, compacted and alkaline soils, which is why it is so widely used in street planting. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep weekly soaks through the first two summers to build a root system, then it manages on natural rainfall in most seasons. A general purpose fertiliser in early spring is plenty.

Pruning. Prune in winter while it is bare and the structure is visible. Remove crossing limbs early and lift the canopy gradually to the clearance you need underneath.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm, 45L, 90L, 100L and 200L, all currently supplied on backorder, so allow extra time when planning a planting date. The 400mm and 45L trees suit most gardens, while the 90L to 200L stock arrives with a formed trunk and several metres of height.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Arriving bare in winter is normal for a deciduous tree, and it will leaf out in spring. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse deciduous trees
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Plants with strong autumn colour
• Choosing trees to line a driveway

Common questions

Does it really have no thorns?

Correct. This is the inermis form, selected as thornless, so it is safe beside paths, driveways and play areas. The wild species is heavily armed and a different proposition entirely.

Will it grow in the subtropics?

It will grow, but it will disappoint. Without cold winters the autumn colour is muted and the tree never rests properly, so warm northern gardens are better served by an evergreen canopy tree.

How messy is the leaf drop?

Less than most deciduous trees. The leaflets are tiny and break down quickly in a lawn, so many owners simply mow over them rather than raking.

How close can I plant it to a house?

Allow 6m to 8m so the mature 8m canopy sits clear of the roof and gutters. The root system is fibrous rather than aggressive, but give paving and pipes reasonable room.