Tree Categories: Fall Color Trees, Fast Growing Trees, Ornamental Trees, and Shade Trees
Mature Tree Height: 40-60 feet tall | Mature Tree Width: 30+ feet wide
Tree Growing Zones: Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, and Zone 8
The Skyline® Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis ‘Skycole’) is a large-sized shade tree. It is renowned for its thornless attribute, making it more desirable as a shade tree. What also makes it a desirable shade tree is its rounded, spreading crown. Its branching habit is more open, however, and will typically let in just enough light to not kill the grass surrounding the base of the tree. Its fern-like leaves emerge as green and remain that way through the summer before turning a pleasant yellow in the fall. They are pinnately compound with 8-14 leaflets and among the latest leaves to emerge in the spring. This tree is tough and fast-growing.
The Skyline® Thornless Honeylocust was introduced in 1957. It is one of the most popular Honeylocust cultivars as a shade tree because it is thornless and has a relatively dense canopy for a honeylocust. It also takes pruning very well, making it a good fit as a city or street tree because its lower branches can be cut with no problem to maximize human traffic. It also does great as a yard tree on its own as a specimen. Its open upright canopy with bright yellow leaves in the fall is quite the satisfying display. This is very adaptable and can withstand a variety of environmental conditions. It does best in partial or full sun and tolerates most soil types.
