When most Midwesterners think of fall color, we think maples. However, the bright gold autumn foliage of the Honey Locust rivals any maple. Honey Locust is a native shade tree species in the Legume family. It can grow up to a height of 100 feet and is a fast grower.
Its leaves are pinnately compound, with leaflets about one inch in size. Foliage is bright green in summer, leafing out relatively late in spring. Its flowers are cream-colored and strongly scented, appearing in late spring. Honey Locust produce 6-8 inch seed pods (legumes) in early autumn. Honey Locusts have thorns, however thorn-less varieties are available.
In Mendota Heights Honey Locust they make up .5% of the total Tree Canopy Area (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022). Their range extends from western Maryland west to South Dakota, and south to southern Alabama. Honey Locust are naturally found in lowland and mesic forests. They prefer moist, rich soil and grow well in full sun to part shade, though they have been shown to be drought-tolerant, as well as tolerant of salt spray.