Balsam Poplar vs Thornless Honeylocust - TreeTime.ca

Balsam Poplar vs Thornless Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos inermis

Populus balsamifera

Thornless Honeylocust
Balsam Poplar

Thornless Honey Locust makes an excellent shade tree with its lacy foliage and dappled shade. The leaves are honey-yellow, light and airy, providing interesting color and texture to your landscape. This variety is thornless, and the seeds and pods provide food for wildlife such as deer and squirrels.

The Thornless Honey Locust is tolerant of drought, various soil conditions, and even road salt.

Balsam Poplar is a hardy, fast-growing deciduous tree that is Native to Canada east of the Rockies.

We grow them in two variations. Sometimes they are a male clones, so they don't produce fluff. Other times, we grow them from seed, which will result in fluff. The detailed descriptions (see below) will tell you which is which.

Thornless Honeylocust Quick Facts

Balsam Poplar Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $14.49 - SAVE UP TO 15%
Lowest Price: $5.49 - SAVE UP TO 50%
Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: light and thin
Fall colour: golden yellow
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Fuzz/fluff: see description
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


In row spacing: 2.4 - 3 m (8 - 10 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: bam, bamtree, eastern balsam poplar, hackmatack, tacamahac