When does Gleditsia triacanthos (honeylocust) bloom?

Honeylocust produces small, fragrant greenish flowers in May and June, typically in clusters along the branches.

What insects pollinate honeylocust flowers?

Bees and flies are the main visitors to honeylocust flowers, drawn to their nectar during the spring bloom period.

How much light does honeylocust need to grow well?

This tree grows best in full sun but can tolerate some part-sun conditions, especially when young or at the edge of a woodland.

How much water does honeylocust require?

Honeylocust does well with medium moisture and can handle drier soils once its root system is established, making it a fairly low-maintenance tree in average landscapes.

Is Three-thorn-acacia toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Three-thorn-acacia as toxic to livestock.

Is Three-thorn-acacia HOA-friendly?

Three-thorn-acacia is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Three-thorn-acacia

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Gleditsia triacanthos

Last reviewed: August 2026

Gleditsia triacanthos is a thorny deciduous tree that blooms in May and June with small greenish flowers visited by bees and flies. It handles full sun, average to dry soil, and heat well once established.

Three-thorn-acacia (Gleditsia triacanthos) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Three-thorn-acacia as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

360"–720" H × 300"–600" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 40 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

Before you buy

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Honey locust is a large, fast-growing shade tree with delicate, feathery compound leaves that cast filtered shade. The tree produces fragrant yellow-green flower clusters in late spring and develops long, twisted seed pods that drop in fall.

Growing Three-thorn-acacia

Grow Three-thorn-acacia in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 360 to 720 inches tall and spread 300 to 600 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Three-thorn-acacia is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.

Large size requires adequate space
Seed pods create seasonal cleanup

Wildlife value

Host plant for luna moth, io moth.

Flowers attract bees and flies in May and June. The seed pods provide food for wildlife, though they can create cleanup issues in maintained landscapes.

Common questions

When does Gleditsia triacanthos (honeylocust) bloom?: Honeylocust produces small, fragrant greenish flowers in May and June, typically in clusters along the branches.
What insects pollinate honeylocust flowers?: Bees and flies are the main visitors to honeylocust flowers, drawn to their nectar during the spring bloom period.
How much light does honeylocust need to grow well?: This tree grows best in full sun but can tolerate some part-sun conditions, especially when young or at the edge of a woodland.
How much water does honeylocust require?: Honeylocust does well with medium moisture and can handle drier soils once its root system is established, making it a fairly low-maintenance tree in average landscapes.
Is Three-thorn-acacia toxic to dogs?: Three-thorn-acacia is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Three-thorn-acacia toxic to cats?: Three-thorn-acacia is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Three-thorn-acacia toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Three-thorn-acacia as toxic to livestock.
Is Three-thorn-acacia HOA-friendly?: Three-thorn-acacia is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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Ready to grow Three-thorn-acacia? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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