Flora of the Southeastern United States

Gleditsia triacanthos Linnaeus. Common name: Honey Locust, Honeyshuck. Phenology: Apr-early Jun; Jul-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands, forests (generally bottomland), fencerows, often planted as a street tree. Distribution: The native distribution is believed to be from w. NY (although see Werier 2017; Werier et al. 2023, who consider this taxon non-native throughout NY) west to se. SD, south to Panhandle FL and TX (in and west of the Blue Ridge); its occurrence in the more eastern portions of our region (east of the Blue Ridge) appears to be as an adventive. Kimball, Whyte, & Crites (2010) found remains in an archeological site near Asheville NC (Blue Ridge) dated at ca. 500 A.D.

ID notes: The trunks are normally beset with lengthy, branched thorns, an apparent vestige of defense against herbivory from Pleistocene megafauna; however, thornless trees (forma inermis Zabel) are favored in horticultural plantings and are more typically encountered.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, Fl3, FNA11.1, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Isely (1975), Isely (1998), Robertson & Lee (1976). Basionym: Gleditsia triacanthos L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Gleditsia triacanthos - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Great Plains: FACU
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 5