24. Honey Locust

Common Name – Honey Locust         

Latin Name - Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’        

Height – 6 to 10 Metres                 Spread – 4 to 8 Metres

The original Gleditsia triacanthos was introduced from the America’s in the 1700’s and gets it common name from the sticky sweet resin held within its seed pods. Introduced into the British Isles in the 1950’s this tree originally, was found in areas of moist or even swampy ground, but since its introduction the Honey Locust tree has been found to thrive in even drier free draining soils.  

This particular specimen unlike its parentage is a thorn-less variety, with a rounded and spreading habit that has yellow foliage and is coveted by many because of its absence of messy fruit pods. From mid-to-late spring this tree produces and eye-catching feathery yellow foliage, which, eventually softens into an attractive greenish-yellow shade. The tree is classified as being bee-friendly, providing an adequate supply of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The trees does flower and emits a subtle sweet scent.