Thornless Honey Locust

The Thornless Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) is a popular, cultivated variety of the native honey locust tree. Unlike the species, it lacks the prominent, sharp, three-pronged thorns on its trunk and branches, making it a much safer and more practical choice for residential and urban settings. This fast-growing, deciduous tree is known for its graceful, spreading canopy and delicate, fern-like leaves composed of numerous small leaflets. The foliage turns a brilliant golden yellow in the fall before dropping.

The Thornless Honey Locust is a landscape favorite due to its resilience and aesthetic qualities. Its airy canopy creates a dappled, filtered shade that is ideal for lawns, as it allows enough sunlight to reach the grass and other plants below. This tree is incredibly tough and adaptable, tolerating a wide range of challenging conditions. It thrives in poor, compacted soils, and is highly resistant to drought, heat, and air pollution, making it perfect for street trees, parking lots, and urban parks. The small leaflets decompose quickly into the soil, requiring little to no raking in the fall. The absence of thorns and messy seed pods (in fruitless cultivars) also significantly reduces cleanup and safety concerns. The tree’s unique, open growth habit and fine-textured foliage provide an elegant, light-filled aesthetic. Its bright yellow fall color adds a welcome splash of color to the autumn landscape.