treeN. America Native

Shademaster Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos 'Shademaster'

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Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

540 inches

Width

420 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low to medium

Humidity

Adaptable

Lifespan

Medium, 50-70 years

Native To

Central and Eastern North America

Toxicity

Non-toxic

The Story

Plant Bio

Gleditsia triacanthos is a fast-growing, deciduous tree known for its adaptability to difficult urban conditions, including drought, pollution, and a wide range of soils. Its fine-textured, compound leaves create a light, dappled shade. 'Shademaster' is a popular cultivar that is both thornless and fruitless, making it an excellent, low-mess street or lawn tree. It has a more upright, vase-shaped form than the species and reliable, though not spectacular, yellow fall color.

Bloom Period:

EarlyLate

Uses & Benefits:

An elegant tree with a graceful, ascending branch structure and fine-textured foliage that creates a pleasant, dappled shade. Its clean, thornless, and podless nature makes it a highly desirable landscape tree.

Extremely tolerant of urban conditions, including air pollution, salt spray, and compacted soils, making it a premier choice for street plantings, parking lots, and other challenging sites. The light shade allows turf to grow directly beneath it.

While cultivars are sterile, the species tree's flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators. It is a host plant for some moth species. Its nitrogen-fixing ability can improve soil fertility.

Marketplace

Where to Buy

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Planting

How to Grow

Select a site in full sun with plenty of room to grow.
Tolerates almost any soil type as long as it's well-drained.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper.
Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the root flare is at soil level.
Backfill with the original soil and water thoroughly.
Mulch around the base, but keep it away from the trunk.

Pro Tip

Water deeply but infrequently after establishment to encourage a deep, drought-resistant root system.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Prune while young to develop a strong structure.
Water regularly for the first year to establish.
Allow lawn to grow underneath; the light shade permits it.
Monitor for pests like mimosa webworm.

Don't

Do not plant in shade; it will become thin and weak.
Avoid overwatering, as it is very drought tolerant once established.
Do not fertilize heavily; it fixes its own nitrogen.
Avoid major pruning on mature trees; it can stress them.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pest Check
Plant
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Dappled shade tree for lawns and patiosDurable and tidy street or parking lot treeFast-growing screen or windbreak

Companion Plants

Hosta species Heuchera species Rudbeckia fulgida Pennisetum alopecuroides Hydrangea arborescens

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Shademaster Honeylocust questions

What zones can Shademaster Honeylocust grow in?

Shademaster Honeylocust is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Shademaster Honeylocust deer resistant?

Yes — Shademaster Honeylocust is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Shademaster Honeylocust bloom?

Shademaster Honeylocust typically blooms in late spring through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Shademaster Honeylocust need full sun?

Shademaster Honeylocust does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Shademaster Honeylocust drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Shademaster Honeylocust handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.