Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos Sunburst is a stunning golden-leaved beauty with frondy-like foliage, known commonly as the Honey Locust.

This pretty and delicate-looking tree has a rounded and spreading form and is considered to be one of the best yellow-foliaged trees on the market.

The foliage is often late to appear, emerging a brilliant lime yellow colour and hardening to a darker green as the summer progresses. Unlike its parent, Gleditsia triacanthos, this yellow beauty has the advantage of being thornless.

Gleditisa triacanthos Sunburst is native to moist and even swampy areas, yet surprisingly, the tree thrives in drier, well-drained soils as well.

This desirable cultivar was introduced in the mid-1950s and won the Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

This attractive tree serves as an excellent focal point and is well-suited for smaller gardens. Despite reaching a medium to large size at maturity, its fern-like foliage creates a gentle, dappled shade that doesn't overwhelm garden living spaces.

This light-coloured beauty will work well if planted with a dark purple-leaved opposite such as Prunus cerasifera Nigra, the Purple Leaved Plum.

With the recent troubles being experienced with the ever-popular garden favourite Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia we recommend Gleditsia triacanthos Sunburst as a much tougher and well-performing alternative.

Mature height: 7-12m

Common names

Honey Locust

Height of tree

7-12m

Soil type

Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Broad

Foliage Colour

Yellow

Information Flags

Award

Looks good in

Spring

Location

Garden, Parkland

Genus

Gleditsia