Pronounciation: Gle-DIT-see-a tri-a-CAN-thos i-NER-mis

Hardiness zones
Sunset 1-16, 18-24 (Too much Pacific marine influence in 17)
USDA 1 (note the cold tolerance of this tree!)-11

Landscape Use: Honey locust is a deciduous shade tree that casts a dappled shade. It makes a great streetscape or lawn tree in the Phoenix area.

Form & Character: Inverted vase-like form with an upright and arching form is generally ideal for urban landscape sites. It has a rigid and distinctively roughened trunk as well as lacey and graceful appearance when fully foliated, mesic, temperate, non desert.

Growth Habit: Deciduous, woody, broadleaf perennial tree, moderately fast growth rate, upright and vigorous to 50- to 70-feet tall with equal to greater spread, dense wooded.

Foliage/Texture: Leaves alternate, pinnately or bipinnately compound, 6- to 8-inches long, pubescent rachis, ovate leaflets are only 1- to 2-inches long. Forma inermis is thorn less; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Inconspicuous yellow-green, catkin-like flowers during spring followed by long black bean pods to 6- to 18-inches long during summer and fall.

Seasonal Color: Honey locust has an in consistent yellow fall color in lower elevation desert landscapes.

Temperature: Honey locust grows best in climates with marked seasons. It is heat loving.

Light: Full sun, avoid reflected western sunlight as prone to sunscald in lower desert.

Soil: Very tolerant

Watering: Somewhat drought tolerant, but does well in Phoenix lawns, particularly winter lawns because of its deciduous habit.

Pruning: Elevate canopy base

Propagation: Cutting, grafting

Disease and Pests: Honey locust is susceptible to several canker diseases, especially following transplanting and when otherwise under stress. Webworm, spider mites, pod gall midge, and honey locust plant bug can seriously damage the foliage, there are no controls.

Additional comments: This is good tree for mesic and oasis city landscapes in arid desert climates because of its wide adaptibility to different growing conditions and landscape situations. Honey locust tolerates a wide range of climate type across the United States (here it is being grown as an urban tree in Cleveland, OH), except for the mild coastal climates of central and southern California (no seasonal distinctions) where it struggles.

Selected cultivars include:

• 'Halka' - this is a relatively new cultivar that has not been thoroughly tested for winter hardiness in the upper Midwest but appears promising at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It grows vigorously with a horizontal branching structure and a broad rounded crown. It does produce some pods.
• `Imperial' - has a compact rounded crown with a wide branching habit. Has a more formal shape than most cultivars of honey locust.
• `Moraine' - is one of the first selected varieties and first patented plant in United States. It has a rounded crown with vase shaped branching structure. It has an irregular form and often requires staking when young to develop a straight trunk.
• `Shademaster' - has a rounded crown with upright, vase shaped branch habit. Has a straight trunk and grows rapidly.
• `Skyline' - has a good symmetrical form with a broadly pyramidal crown and spreading to upright branching habit. Has very good yellow fall color. It is probably the most widely planted cultivar. Hardier than most other cultivars.
• `Summer Lace' - is a fast growing cultivar with light green new foliage that becomes darker green as it matures.
• 'Sunburst' - has bright yellow new growth. Has a broad oval crown with a very irregular growth habit. Requires staking when young to develop a straight trunk. Very susceptible to nectria canker.