The honey locust , also known as the thorny locust or thorny honeylocust , is a deciduous tree in the family Fabaceae . aboriginal to primal North America , the Honey Locust can be found from Pennsylvania to Nebraska , and in the south to Texas and Mississippi where it is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys . Honey locust tree trees are highly adaptable to different environments , and the species has been precede worldwide . Outside its natural range it can be an aggressive , damaging trespassing species .
A matured Honey Locust can reach heights of 60 to 80 substructure . However , in some example , especially with ideal growing conditions , they might originate even taller , sometimes up to 100 foot ( 30 time ) . The cattle ranch or canopy breadth of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can be quite broad , often reaching 30 to 60 feet in diam . The trunk can produce to a diameter of 2 to 3 foot , but exceptional specimens might have even larger body .
On young Honey Locust trees , the bark is generally placid and has a grayish to light brown colour . As the tree matures , the barque modernise into foresighted , narrow-minded ridges and can become deep rugged . The color darkens to a non-white gray or brown , often with a reddish tincture in the fissure of the barque . The godforsaken form of Honey Locust is its orotund , branched sticker which can grow directly on the trunk and subdivision . These prickle can be several inches long , very sharp-worded , and are often red or browned .
The leaves are pinnately colonial or bipinnately compound , meaning they are made up of many small leaflets on a single leaf stubble ( pinnate ) , or the pamphlet themselves are further divided ( bipinnate ) . Each chemical compound leaf can have between 18 to 28 leaflets . They wrench a darker light-green as the season progresses . Before come down , the leave of absence can call on a brilliant yellow , although this can be less pronounce in some trees or in warm climates where the fall colouration alteration might not be as vivid .
The Honey Locust typically blossom in previous spring to early summertime , around May to June , depending on the local climate . The flowers are small , greenish - yellowness to white , and not in particular showy when view individually . However , they can be quite fragrant . They appear in clusters , often hanging in raceme or spikes .
Inside these cod are numerous monotonous , oval seed fence by a sweet , viscid pulp , which is where the tree diagram gets its “ honey ” name . This pulp is edible and has a scented discernment , which is why it ’s attractive to wildlife and was used by humans historically .
The Honey Locust is loosely study to have a medium to fast growing charge per unit . Under optimal conditions , it can farm more than 24 inch ( 60 cm ) per year . A Honey Locust tree typically lives for about 100 to 150 years . Some trees might live longer with ideal fear and in well-disposed precondition , though urban environments with pollution , grease compaction , and other focus can significantly cut back this lifespan .
There are several cultivated potpourri that have been develop for decorative use , focusing on characteristic like lack of thorns , specific growth habits , or foliage colouration .
