Gleditsia triacanthos f.inermis Rubylace - Honeylocust

The Gleditsia triacanthos f.inermis 'Ruby Lace' is a magnificent variety of Americna Honey Locist with purple foliage, a surprising cousin of acacias and mimosas. Its deciduous foliage, shiny and finely cut like that of the albizzia, retains a purple hue from spring to summer that gradually gives way to green and bronze tones, while autumn paints it a deep yellow. With its airy and majestic habit it provides a light shade, and does not bear thorns. Superb as a standalone plant, highly colorful in a mixed hedge, this unique, hardy specimen, will adapt to all types of soil.

Gleditsia triacanthos is a tree of the fabaceae family, related to the carob tree, native to the eastern and central United States (from Nebraska, through Pennsylvania to Texas). Its growth is rapid, especially in moist soil. 'Ruby Lace' is a horticultural selection with remarkable foliage and thornless branches. Its silhouette, taller than wide, is airy towards the top, with drape-like vegetation. It will reach about 15m (49 ft 2 in) in height and 10m (32 ft 10 in) in spread. The foliage appears late at the end of spring, with large leaves that are finely divided into small, alternate, pinnate leaflets measuring between 14 and 25 cm (5.5 and 9.8 in). The foliage changes from reddish-purple in spring to yellow-orange in autumn, and is accompanied by a glossy texture that is transparent in day light. The upright tree trunk is dark and fissured. This tree is dioecious (there are male and female individuals), and its discreet summer flowering produces honey. Only the female trees bear mahogany coloured, flattened pods, 20 to 40 cm (7.9 to 15.7 in) long, in winter, with sweet, edible pulp. Young plants need protection from severe cold, but an mature specimen can withstand temperatures well below -15°C (5 °F). This tree has a deep taproot system which requires good soil depth.

One might wonder why the Thornless Honey Locust and its varieties are not more commonly planted despite being less hardy and not easier to cultivate. Perhaps this is due to its insignificant flowering, largely compensated by the splendor of its foliage. In summary, it is a perfect tree as a standalone in a large garden where it provides a little shade without preventing other plants from growing at its base. Its astonishing colors catch the light, representing a true alternative to break the monotony of certain foliage, such as lilacs, mock oranges, deutzias, once their flowering is over. As an ornamental tree and utility plant, Gleditsia has hard and dense, reddish-brown wood. This highly adaptable tree, while thriving in rich and moist, even poorly drained soil, tolerates dry, poor and limestone soils once well established.