Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a large and beautiful tree, which is well-known for its ability to resist harsh climates. This tree drops the foliage early in the fall, which prevents it from falling victim to the early freezes and heavy snow.
Besides being resistant to harsh weather changes, honeylocust also adjusts to urban conditions. It grows well in compacted soil, doesn’t suffer from road salt, and takes heat well. However, to grow tall, the tree needs regular watering, full sun, and pruning.
Appearance
The honeylocust tree usually grows to be 30 to 70 feet tall with a 40–50-foot spread. It has an upright spreading canopy, which provides spotty shade. With the right care and conditions, the tree can grow around two feet per year.
Bark
Young trees have smooth, gray-brown bark, which becomes deeply furrowed and develops interlacing ridges with age. Some varieties (wild types) have sharp thorns along the trunk, but most cultivated landscape varieties in Denver are thornless.
Leaves
Honeylocust has delicate compound leaves that can be between 6 and 12 inches long. Each one consists of around 20 leaflets that are 3/4 to 1.5 inches long. These leaves are bright yellow-green in the spring. They turn deep green in the summer and golden yellow in the fall.
Flowers & Seed Pods
This tree has inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers, which come out in late spring or early summer. The flowers have a slight fragrance. Female trees develop long, twisted seed pods (up to 18 inches), which turn dark brown in the fall. However, landscape varieties are often seedless.
In the winter, the tree loses its leaves but its sculptural branching creates an elegant silhouette. Some remaining seed pods may hang on through winter, adding contrast to the bare branches.
Why Honeylocust Grows Well in Denver
Honeylocust thrives in Denver for several reasons. They include:
- Drought Tolerance: Honeylocust trees thrive in Denver’s semi-arid climate due to their deep root systems that efficiently absorb water.
- Cold Hardiness: Well-suited to Denver’s USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, the tree can withstand temperatures as low as -10°F..
- Heat and Sun Resilience: The tree grows well under full sun conditions, which makes it perfect for Denver’s high-altitude and sunny climate.
- Adaptability to Poor Soils: Honeylocust trees tolerate clay, sandy, alkaline, and compacted soils.
- Resistant to Urban Pollution: The tree boasts a high tolerance for air pollution and road salts.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal pruning and care, especially with thornless, seedless cultivars.
- Pest and Disease Resistance: Though susceptible to some pests, cultivated varieties have good resistance to many common tree diseases.
In short, honeylocust is not a picky tree. It withstands harsh conditions while looking beautiful and providing dappled shade.
How Far West Can Honeylocust Trees Grow?
The honeylocust tree grows well at elevations up to 6,500 feet. That’s why it’s well-suited for the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The higher the tree grows, the more difficult it becomes for it to thrive.
In areas above 7,000 feet, colder temperatures and heavy snowfall make survival difficult. While honeylocust can tolerate temperatures as low as -20°F, extreme mountain conditions hinder its growth. It feels the best in valleys, lower slopes, and urban landscapes.
Interesting Facts about Honeylocusts
Besides being a highly tolerant rapid grower, honeylocust is an excellent soil improver. Its fallen leaves enrich the soil with nitrogen. Meanwhile, the filtered shade creates excellent conditions for other plants to grow underneath. The wild varieties of honeylocusts that have seedpods attract deer and small mammals.
To learn more about honeylocusts, feel free to contact our professional arborists at any time.