Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fabales>Fabaceae>Gleditsia triacanthos L.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Honeylocust is an uncommon, medium-large tree of waste places and edges, introduced from the mid-western US. The leaves are either pinnately or bi-pinnately compound, with many small, oval leaflets on each leaf. The main leaf at left is bi-pinnate and has 154 leaflets! (Yes, I counted them.)

Chatham Co., NC 6/28/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Chatham Co., NC 6/28/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Leaves are sometimes just once-pinnately compound, as here. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is the most similar species, but has much smaller thorns and smaller pods.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

The large, wicked thorns are often forked. Some cultivars are thornless.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) thorns

Durham Co., NC 12/6/08.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) thorns

Durham Co., NC 12/6/08.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Durham Co., NC 8/19/07.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Durham Co., NC 8/19/07.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

The pods are broad, long, and twisted.

Chatham Co., NC 6/28/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) pods

The pods turn black when ripe and contain a sweet-tasting sticky substance that gives Honeylocust its common name.

Orange Co., NC 12/27/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Durham Co., NC 8/19/07.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Durham Co., NC 8/19/07.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bark

The bark of small trees soon breaks into plates.

Orange Co., NC 1/11/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bark

Orange Co., NC 1/11/09.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

The trunks of open-grown trees can be quite heavily armed.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bark

The bark on large trees breaks into long ridges.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bark

Bark of a large tree.

Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides