Why We Don’t Offer the Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) at Black Hills Gardens.
The Thornless Honeylocust is a widely planted tree, often chosen for its rapid growth, tolerance of urban conditions (like road salt and poor soil), and delicate, filtered shade that allows grass to grow underneath it. It has a lovely golden-yellow fall color and, as the name implies, lacks the formidable thorns of the species plant.
However, here at Black Hills Gardens, we focus our inventory on plants that offer long-term value and require minimal hassle for local homeowners. While the Thornless Honeylocust has its merits, we choose not to carry it due to several persistent maintenance and pest issues that often make it a frustrating choice for a residential landscape.
Reason 1: A Magnet for Pests and Disease
Despite being a popular tree, the Thornless Honeylocust is susceptible to a large number of insect and disease problems that require ongoing management to keep the tree looking attractive.
- Mimosa Webworms: These caterpillars create unsightly brown webs that can cover large sections of the canopy, a recurring problem that requires intervention.
- Honeylocust Plant Bugs and Spider Mites: These pests feed on new growth in the spring and summer, causing leaves to become distorted, yellow, or drop prematurely.
- Cankers and Root Rot: These are major diseases that can cause dieback of branches or even kill the tree by girdling the stem.
We prefer to offer trees that can stand up to our local conditions without requiring frequent chemical sprays or constant monitoring.
Reason 2: Messy Seed Pods and Sprouts
While many nursery cultivars are “podless,” those that do produce the large (up to 18-inch long), dark purplish-brown seed pods create significant maintenance issues when they drop to the ground.
- The pods must be picked up regularly, or the seeds can germinate readily, leading to unwanted saplings sprouting throughout your yard.
- The fine leaflets, while easy to mow over, can accumulate in drifts against fences and structures, requiring constant cleanup.
Reason 3: Aggressive Root Systems
The tree’s rapid growth is partly due to its very efficient, widespread, and deep root system. This aggressive system can compete heavily for moisture with other plants, potentially starving nearby flowers, shrubs, or vegetables of the water they need to thrive.
Our Recommended Alternatives
If you are looking for a hardy, dependable shade tree that is better suited for a residential landscape in the Black Hills, we recommend superior options that we proudly carry:
- Bur Oak: A tough, native tree that handles our climate well and provides strong, long-term shade and resilience.
- Amur Maple Tree: A beautiful, manageable size with strong wood and fantastic fall color, offering a reliable alternative to a fast-growing locust.
- American Linden: A robust shade tree known for its strong structure, fragrant flowers, and longevity, without the associated pest problems.
We carefully curate our inventory to ensure that every plant you get from the Black Hills Gardens nursery is set up for success in your specific yard.