If you love the airy, delicate canopy and adaptability of the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) but want to explore other options for your landscape, this list is for you. Whether you’re seeking a tree with similar light-filtering foliage, tolerance to urban conditions, or interesting seed pods, these ten trees offer comparable qualities. We’ll cover species that thrive in similar climates and provide the unique aesthetic or functional benefits that make honey locusts so popular.
1. Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
The Kentucky coffeetree is a large deciduous tree native to the central United States, sharing many traits with the honey locust. It has an open, spreading canopy and bipinnately compound leaves that create dappled shade, making it ideal for lawns and parks. Unlike honey locust, its seed pods are thick and hard, historically used as coffee substitutes, though the seeds must be roasted to be safe. It tolerates urban pollution and drought well, making it a robust alternative.
2. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Black locust is a fast-growing species known for its fragrant white flowers and durable wood. Like honey locust, it has compound leaves and thrives in a variety of soils, including poor, dry sites. Its dense canopy provides more shade than honey locust’s open form, but it can be pruned to maintain airiness. Black locust is also nitrogen-fixing, improving soil fertility, but it can be invasive in some regions, so check local guidelines before planting.
3. Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica)
Though not a legume like honey locust, Persian parrotia offers a similar light, textured canopy and spectacular fall color. It’s a medium-sized tree with peeling bark and a rounded crown, providing dappled shade. It prefers well-drained soils and is highly resistant to urban pollution and pests. While it lacks the distinctive seed pods of honey locust, its ornamental bark and autumn hues make it a valuable landscape tree.
4. Shademaster Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Shademaster’)
This cultivar of honey locust is thornless and bred for urban landscapes, providing the same airy, filtered shade without the nuisance of thorns or messy seed pods. It grows rapidly to 30-50 feet and withstands heat, drought, and pollution. Shademaster is widely planted along streets and in parks for its adaptability and minimal maintenance, making it a top choice for those who love honey locust’s look but want fewer hassles.
5. Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)
Also called the Chinese scholar tree, this species is closely related to honey locust and shares its pinnate leaves and tolerance to urban conditions. It produces creamy white flower clusters in late summer, adding ornamental value. The Japanese pagoda tree is slower-growing but very hardy, resisting drought, pollution, and salt, making it suitable for city streets and tough environments where honey locust thrives.
6. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Black walnut is a large native tree with compound leaves and a spreading canopy that casts filtered shade similar to honey locust. It is prized for its valuable hardwood and edible nuts, though the nuts can create litter and the roots produce juglone, which inhibits some plants nearby. Black walnut prefers deep, fertile soils but tolerates a range of conditions. Its stately form and shade make it a good alternative where space allows.
7. American Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
American yellowwood is a medium-sized tree with smooth gray bark and pinnate leaves that turn bright yellow in fall. It produces fragrant white flower clusters in spring, resembling those of the black locust but more compact. This species prefers well-drained soils and partial shade but adapts to full sun. Its elegant form and seasonal interest make it a worthy substitute for honey locust in ornamental settings.
8. Black Locust ‘Purple Robe’ (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’)
This cultivar of black locust is notable for its striking purple flowers that bloom in late spring. It shares the hardiness, nitrogen-fixing ability, and compound leaves of typical black locust trees but adds vibrant color to the landscape. It grows quickly and tolerates poor soils and drought. While it can spread aggressively, careful management allows it to be an attractive, flowering counterpart to honey locust.
9. Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
The mimosa tree offers a similar airy canopy with feathery bipinnate leaves that provide light, dappled shade. It is prized for its showy pink powderpuff flowers in summer, attracting pollinators. Mimosa grows rapidly and tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils but is considered invasive in some areas. Its tropical appearance and delicate foliage make it a popular alternative in warmer climates.
10. Chinese Scholar Tree (Sophora japonica)
Often confused with the Japanese pagoda tree, the Chinese scholar tree is another close relative with pinnate leaves and a broad, open crown. It produces creamy white flowers and thrives in urban environments, tolerating pollution, drought, and compacted soils. This tree’s resilience and aesthetic qualities make it a practical and attractive honey locust alternative in many parts of the United States.
How to Choose
When selecting a tree similar to honey locust, consider your site’s soil quality, moisture levels, and available sunlight. Honey locust thrives in full sun and adapts well to various soils, so look for species with similar tolerance if you want low maintenance. Decide if you prefer a thornless or thorny tree, as honey locusts can have thorns unless you choose a cultivar like ‘Shademaster.’ Also, factor in seed pod litter and invasiveness; some relatives produce messy or toxic pods, and others spread aggressively. Finally, consider your aesthetic goals—whether you want delicate foliage, showy flowers, or autumn color—to pick a tree that fits your landscape’s style and function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are honey locust trees invasive?
Some honey locust varieties can spread aggressively, especially those with viable seed pods. Cultivars like ‘Shademaster’ are thornless and less invasive, making them safer choices for urban planting.
Q: Which trees provide similar dappled shade?
Kentucky coffeetree, American yellowwood, and mimosa trees have bipinnate leaves that create light-filtered shade similar to honey locust.
Q: Do any honey locust alternatives have notable flowers?
Yes, black locust produces fragrant white flowers, mimosa has pink powderpuff blooms, and black locust ‘Purple Robe’ offers purple flowers, enhancing ornamental appeal.
Q: Are honey locusts good for urban environments?
Yes, honey locusts tolerate heat, drought, pollution, and compacted soils, making them popular for city streets and parks. Many alternatives like the Japanese pagoda tree and Chinese scholar tree share this adaptability.
Q: What about thornless options?
The ‘Shademaster’ cultivar of honey locust is thornless and bred for urban use. Other species like Kentucky coffeetree naturally lack thorns and can be good substitutes.
Q: Can I plant black locust without worrying about invasiveness?
Black locust can spread by root suckers and seed, potentially becoming invasive in some areas. Check local regulations and consider containment strategies before planting.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a tree similar to honey locust depends on your priorities—whether it’s shade quality, flowering, maintenance, or site conditions. From the robust Kentucky coffeetree to the delicate mimosa, these alternatives provide a range of options that capture the essence of honey locust’s airy canopy and resilience. By understanding the growth habits, environmental tolerance, and aesthetic traits of these trees, you can select the perfect match for your landscape that delivers beauty and function for years to come.
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