Black Locust vs Thornless Honeylocust - TreeTime.ca

Black Locust vs Thornless Honeylocust

Robinia pseudoacacia

Gleditsia triacanthos inermis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Black Locust
Thornless Honeylocust

Black Locust is an attractive tree. Its distinctive leaves are made of about a dozen bright green leaflets. It also notable for its fragrant white flowers, which smell of citrus.

Black Locust can grow in many situations, but prefers dry areas with lots of sun. It is robust and is an excellent choice for establishing shade in dry, open areas.

Important note: Much of the Black Locust is toxic to humans and livestock, including seeds, bark, and leaves.

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.

Black Locust Quick Facts

Thornless Honeylocust Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: light and thin
Bark: dark reddish brown to balck with furrows
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in a pyramidal shape bloom in may-june
Seeds: dark brown peapod-like pods
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: false acacia, yellow locust