Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis, commonly known as the Thornless Honey Locust, is a deciduous tree native to the central and eastern United States, particularly found in floodplains and river valleys. This cultivar is a naturally occurring thornless variety of the Honey Locust tree. It typically grows to a height of 30-70 feet (9-21 meters) and spreads 30-50 feet (9-15 meters). The tree has a graceful, open form with a short trunk and a broad, rounded crown. It produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in late spring, followed by long, twisted seed pods. The foliage is fern-like, providing light, dappled shade, and turns a clear yellow in the fall.

The Thornless Honey Locust is valued for its adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions, including poor soils, and its tolerance of drought and urban pollution. It is often used in urban landscapes, along streets, in parks, and as a shade tree in residential areas. This tree requires full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soil, although it can tolerate occasional wetness. It is relatively low-maintenance once established. One of the notable benefits of this tree is its lack of thorns, which makes it a safer choice for public spaces and home gardens. However, it can be susceptible to pests such as webworms and borers, and diseases like leaf spot and canker.CC BY-SA 4.0