Fast growing, widely adapted tree with a vast native range covering the South, Midwest, and Eastern United States. Produces large, long, strappy bean pods with sweet edible pulp. Immature pods can be cooked and eaten. Young seeds taste like raw peas. Legume pods are considered a useful fodder for livestock and will otherwise litter the ground. These seedlings are from open pollinated trees that have shown to produce a good pod crop and were thornless. Juvenile plants will often have some thorns which prevent them from being eaten when young, but they disappear as the plants mature. Honeylocust can be planted as a shade tree, it has an irregularly shaped oval canopy and will grows to about 50-75 ft. Golden yellow autumn foliage is one of the earliest to defoliate. Wood is hard and durable and imparts a desirable honeywood flavor to grilled foods. Tolerant of urban pollution.
ZONE: 4-9
POLLINATION/BLOOM TIME: Large dangling grapelike clusters of light green flowers in late May.
RECOMMENDED GROWING AND CARE:
Full sun, balanced moisture to start is ideal. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but not standing water. Regularly used in challenging urban sites: hot concretes, small boxes, low water, salt or de-icing compounds, etc. Summer prune for airflow and ease of harvest.
DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good. Prone to cankers, borers and webworm.
SIZE AT MATURITY: To 60' x 40' rapidly, sometimes larger
