Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis [sold as Shademaster®]
Shademaster Thornless Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis [sold as Shademaster®] - Summer Habit
 Family:
 Genus:
 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Yellow (Spring; not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Dark green pinnately compound summer foliage); Yellow (Pleasant, bright yellow fall coloration)
 Fruit Notes:
Brown (Rarely produced long (7-18"), interesting pods)
 Ultimate Height:
45-70 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
35-50 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to soils
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves alternate, pinnately or bipinnately compound, 6-8" long with pubescent rachis and leaflets only 0.3-1.5" long. Zig-zag branches with swollen nodes of a shining red to reddish to greenish-brown color. Fruits (when present) are 7-18" reddish-brown pods that persist. Bark is divided into flat plates, separated by deep ridges.
  Special Characteristics:
  • Drought Tolerant 280
  • Salt Tolerant 60
  • Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 186
  • Fall Color 219
  • Notable Bark 165
  • Shade Tree 176
  • Specimen 612
  • Street Tree 138

    • Additional Information

    The Shademaster Thornless Honeylocust is a popular cultivar that is nearly fruitless and has dark green, finely compound leaves on ascending branches that provide a pleasant, dappled shade in the summer. The thornless forma inermis is only sold in commerce, as the profuse thorns of the species type can be a liability. Mimosa webworm and locust mite are serious pests in the Midwest, and are becoming more serious (especially in areas tending toward monoculture). Can be controlled with spraying.

    18 Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis [sold as Shademaster®] found

    = Heritage plant = Memorial plant
    Number Accession ID Location
    1ORIG_4867*AHILL
    2ORIG_4872*AHILL
    3ORIG_4838*AHORTPARK
    4ORIG_4837*AHORTPARK
    5ORIG_4836*AHORTPARK
    6ORIG_4870*AHILL
    7ORIG_4880*AHILL
    8ORIG_0199*AFWLR
    9ORIG_4871*AHILL
    10ORIG_4882*AHILL
    112021_00085*AHILL
    122023_00108*BBHEE
    132023_00108*CBHEE
    142023_00108*DBHEE
    152024_00155*AHARR
    162024_00155*BMCUT
    172024_00155*CMCUT
    182024_00155*DMCUT

    Other plants like this Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis [sold as Shademaster®] (Shademaster Thornless Honeylocust)

    Communication

    University Resources

    Sustainability Resources

    Arboretum Resources

    Purdue University Logo Purdue University Logo

    The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

    Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
    © 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
    Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us