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Jesse Saylor
Fabaceae
GLEDITSIA triacanthos f. inermis 'Rubylace'
Thornless Honeylocust
Honeylocust is a spiny, lacy-leaved, medium to large deciduous tree native to the central and eastern United States and southern Ontario. Introduced in 1964 by Princeton Nurseries of Allentown, New Jersey, 'Rubylace' is a thornless, somewhat weak-growing selection with burgundy-red spring leaves that turn bronze-green in summer.
Like most honeylocusts, 'Rubylace' has pinnately compound leaves that cast filtered shade. They emerge relatively late in spring and turn dull yellow-bronze before dropping in autumn. Fallen leaves create relatively little mess. The trunk has gray-brown, shallowly fissured bark that lacks the formidable spines typical of most honeylocusts. Clusters of inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in spring, with no seedpods following. This cultivar grows relatively slowly into a small irregular mop-headed tree.
Honeylocust likes sun and is adapted to a wide variety of soil types. Thornless selections make good shade trees, although overuse of this species has led to increasing cultural problems. This cultivar is considered to be among the most pest- and disease-susceptible honeylocusts.
9 - 1
3 - 9
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20
Tree
Full Sun
20'-35' / 6.1m - 10.7m
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
Late Spring
Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam
Drought, Salt
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Spring, Summer
Insignificant
Yellow Green
Red, Burgundy
Dark Green, Bronze
Light Yellow, Bronze
Brown, Sandy Brown, Gray
Yes
No
Single
Fine
Matte
Fissured
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
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