Digging deeperPlant Library

Description:

A very popular shade tree, valued for its delicate, ferny appearance which casts a dappled shade below; foliage emerges a brilliant yellow, fading to light green; broad spreading habit of growth, seedless, very tolerant of adverse growing conditions

Ornamental Features

Sunburst Honeylocust has attractive lime green deciduous foliage which emerges gold in spring on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding yellow in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Sunburst Honeylocust is an open deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and squirrels to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Sunburst Honeylocust is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Sunburst Honeylocust will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 7 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.