Gleditsia x texana - Texas Honey Locust

Gleditsia x texana, commonly known as the hybrid American honey locust, is a deciduous tree of beautiful stature, with few thorns, interesting for its light branches. It stands out for its elegant, light, finely cut foliage and beautiful autumn colouration. Tolerant of different types of soil and perfectly resistant to cold, this honey locust adapts to many climates. It is suitable for parks and large gardens.

Gleditsia x texana belongs to the Fabaceae family. This natural hybrid is the result of cross-breeding between Gleditsia triacanthos and G. aquatica. Originally from lowlands near Brazoria, Texas, it was first observed in 1892 and introduced into cultivation in 1900. It grows at a medium pace and reaches a minimum height of 12 m with a spread of 4 to 6 m. This tree has an upright habit, a few scattered thorns on the branches and trunk, and thornless leaves, unlike those of the Gleditsia triacanthos. Its bark is smooth and pale. Its leaves, 10 to 20 cm long, are composed of 6 to 16 pairs of small oblong to oval leaflets, a shiny dark green in summer. In autumn, they take on shades ranging from yellow to orange and red before falling. The flowers of the hybrid American honey locust, grouped in clusters of 7 to 10 cm, are dark yellow-orange. Its fruits are flat pods measuring 10 to 13 cm long, dark brown and devoid of pulp. They contain several small seeds. This hybrid adapts to different types of soils, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils.

Gleditsia x texana is a versatile tree that can be used in various landscaping projects. It is interesting for creating a focal point in large gardens and parks. It can be paired with Cercis canadensis 'Red Force' (Eastern Redbud), with its pink spring flowers and purple foliage, Quercus palustris (Pin Oak), which brings its robust structure to the ensemble, Acer rubrum 'Armstrong Gold' (Red Maple), for its flamboyant autumn colours, and Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba' (American Sweetgum) with its beautiful palmate leaves that are highly coloured in autumn.