Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis Emerald Cascade - Thornless Honeylocust

The Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Emerald Cascade' is a thornless variety of the American honey locust that is known for its beautiful weeping habit and small size. It has large, deciduous leaves that are finely cut and have a bright green colour, turning warm yellow in autumn. This small ornamental tree is best planted as a standalone specimen near a water feature, in a small garden, or in a container on a terrace.

The Gleditsia triacanthos, or American honey locust, is a tree in the Fabaceae family, related to the carob tree, and native to the eastern and central United States (from Nebraska, through Pennsylvania, down to Texas). It grows quickly, especially in moist soil. Young specimens need protection from severe cold, but a mature tree can withstand temperatures well below -15°C. Once well-established, the American honey locust tolerates summer drought. It can tolerate almost any soil type, except excessively acidic soils.

The Gleditsia triacanthos 'Emerald Cascade' is a thornless horticultural selection that develops a more or less regular weeping crown when grafted onto a stem. It has slow growth, and its mature size depends on the height of the rootstock. The tree reaches between 3 and 5 metres in height with a spread of 2.5 to 3.5 metres. Its dark grey bark tends to become shallowly channelled over time. The branches hang down to the ground if not pruned. The foliage appears late in spring and is dense and highly decorative, composed of large leaves divided into numerous leaflets measuring 3 cm long. The foliage colour changes from emerald green to golden yellow in autumn and has a glossy texture that plays beautifully with light, even when viewed through. This variety only produces inconspicuous male flowers in small greenish clusters between June and July. The tree has a deep taproot system, requiring a soil with good depth.

The Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Emerald Cascade' is a small tree suitable for gardens of all sizes and container cultivation. It can be planted as a focal point. To surround it, choose easy-care ground cover plants such as periwinkle or variegated ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata'). Consider also planting spring bulbs or cyclamen near its base.

One might wonder why thornless American honey locust and its varieties are not more commonly planted in France, which seems to only feature albizia in its gardens, despite it being less hardy and not easier to grow. This is likely due to its insignificant flowering, which is more than compensated for by the splendour of its foliage.

As an ornamental tree and useful plant, Gleditsia has hard and dense reddish-brown wood that is locally used for making posts and railway sleepers, and is also appreciated in cabinetmaking. Its foliage, rich in protein, makes excellent fodder for livestock. This highly adaptable tree, thriving in rich and moist, even poorly drained soil, ultimately tolerates dry, poor, and alkaline soils once established.