Honey Locust - Gleditsia triacanthos - €12 per plant

The Honey Locust is an impressive tree albeit a little hostile, what with the 15 cm thorns that protrude from all parts of the tree like living barbed wire. It is unusual in that although part of the legume family, this tree does not fix nitrogen, however its many other attributes make it a worthwhile occupant in the large garden and an invaluable tree for over story pasture. Some sources report it does fix nitrogen.   To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region:Eastern N. America. Occasionally naturalized in C. and S. Europe.
  • native habitat: Usually growing singly, though occasionally forming almost pure woods, on the borders of streams and in rich woods, usually in moist fertile soils but sometimes on dry sterile gravelly hills
  • family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae


Predators

  • Foliage browsed by cattle and deer
  • Pods relished by deer, rabbit, squirels and hares

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun 
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8
  • Prefers well drained soil
  • Best grown in an open sunny site.

Known hazards 

  • The plant contains potentially toxic compounds

Overview

  • Deciduous Tree growing to 20m  by 15m at a medium rate.
  • It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from Oct to November.
  •  The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
  • It cannot grow in the shade.
  •  It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
  • It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Characteristics

  • form: Standard Tree  
  • layer : Upper Canopy 
  • habit: Vigorous growing, pioneer specie
  • height x width (m): 20 x 15
  • years to bearing flowers : 9   
  • productive life span: est 10-15yrs to reach good timber size and than 8yr coppice cycle for the nest 25-30 yrs

Products 

  • Leaf: High in nitrogen content makes a great mulch and livestock fodder. 
  • Seeds: Coffee substitute ,edible
  • Seedpods: Edible when cooked, good winter food for rabbits and goats. Exude a sweet liquid which can be used as a sugar substitute
  • Wood : Very durable and rot resistant, good for posts and beams in construction
  • Medicinal: The pods have been made into a tea for the treatment of indigestion, measles, catarrh etc

Functions, behaviours

  • Easy to propagate by seed
  • Sends up suckers
  • Trees can also be coppiced on longer rotations for use as poles or fire wood.
  • Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
  • Leaves emerge late in spring and drop abscise early in the autumn
  • Can be Dioecious
  • The flowers are very attractive to bees
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project