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Honey locust is a heat-loving tree from North America. Produces a very wide crown with interesting pinnate leaves. Serves as an ornamental, melliferous and medicinal plant. Honey locust can be propagated by seeds, shoots and cuttings. How to do this is described in detail in the article.
Description and photo of honey locust
Honey locust, or honey locust, is less commonly called American locust because it is common in the southeastern United States. The photo shows that acacia or honey locust is a fairly tall tree with a powerful trunk (up to 75 cm in diameter) and a developed crown.
The color of the bark is dark brown, the surface is wrinkled, and cracks over time. The root system of three-thorned honey locust is very developed and produces many layerings. It lies both at depth and in the surface layer of the soil, diverging in all directions.
The buds are arranged alternately, they are small in size, and the color is red-brown. The shoots are of the geniculate type, of the same color.The surface is smooth, glistens in the sun, reddish longitudinal lentils are noticeable, and less often, spines.
Adult branches of three-thorned honey locust are partly flat in shape, brown-green or gray in color. There are numerous spines on the surface. They can be long, simple or three times branched, which is why the tree got its name. The color is reddish-brown, the surface is glossy. The shape is sharp, the spines are flattened at the base, and they are very long - reaching a length of 20-30 cm, although on average 5-10 cm. A characteristic feature of the tree is that it has brittle young shoots and even old branches. This must be taken into account when leaving.
The leaves of the three-spined honey locust are arranged alternately, the type is sessile. Quite long, reaching 15-20 cm. The shape is pari-pinnate, arranged in several pairs (from 8 to 17). They are also double-pinnate. They grow on shortened shoots and are collected in bunches. There are also smaller leaves - only 1-2 cm long. The color of the plates of honey locust is dark green, the surface is shiny. The shape is lanceolate or oval, with a narrower apex. The edges are entire and may be crenate. Slight pubescence is noticeable along the veins. The foliage begins to bloom in April.
Three-thorned honey locust can reach a height of 20-40 m
Honey locust blooms from May to July (duration within three weeks). In warmer regions, flowering begins earlier, and in cooler areas (most regions of Russia) - later. The flowers are numerous, but look inconspicuous, have a greenish color and pubescence. They are located in the axillary brushes, the length reaches 5-8 cm. They are mostly unisexual, sometimes bisexual. They give a pleasant aroma.
The sepals and petals of honey locust are also pubescent. Each flower has from 6 to 10 separate stamens with green anthers. The pistils have a hairy ovary, slightly curved, sessile. The styles are short, the stigma is mushroom-shaped.
From October to November, three-spined honey locust begins to form fruits. They are narrow, elongated beans with a leathery surface. They often have a curved or spirally twisted shape. The length is large - reaches 30-50 cm, while the width is only 3 cm. The beans are flattened, the color is red-brown, the surface is shiny, the flesh is juicy and sweet.
Each fruit of the three-spined honey locust contains seeds of an elongated, flattened shape. They are yellowish or brown in color and give a dull shine. The sizes are average - 1-1.5 cm long, up to 7 mm wide. The peel is very hard.
Where does it grow
The three-spined honey locust is native to the east coast of North America. It is distributed from Pennsylvania to the southern borders of Minnesota. It grows mainly in the forest zone.
In the middle of the 20th century, it was brought to the USSR, where it was planted in the southern regions to form a forest shelterbelt. The crop was also used to strengthen crumbling soil on river banks, as well as to form hedges.
Most often, three-spined honey locust is used as an ornamental plant. It is found in the southern regions of Russia, including the North Caucasus. The tree is heat-loving, so growing it in other areas of the country is difficult.
Sometimes three-spined honey locust is found, for example, in the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone. It is worth keeping in mind that here it requires special shelter for the winter and even if all care rules are followed, it does not grow more than 10 m in height.
Adult specimens can withstand even severe frosts
How to grow honey locust from seeds
Three-spined honey locust seeds can be collected or purchased. They remain viable for several years. In this case, they need to undergo preliminary stratification. To do this, they are placed in a bag and put in the refrigerator for 1-1.5 months.
In March they begin planting three-thorned acacia. They work like this:
- Place in very warm, but not hot water for several hours.
- After the seed has increased in volume by 2-3 times, it is planted in fertile soil (a mixture of chernozem or peat with sand in a ratio of 1:2), depth 1 cm.
- Place in a warm place, cover with film and water generously, ventilating regularly.
- In the middle - second half of May, three-thorned honey locust seedlings are transferred to open ground. Continue to actively water and feed.
- For the winter, mulch with a large layer of straw.
Reproduction
Along with seeds, the three-thorn tree can be propagated in other ways:
- Cuttings.
- Root suckers.
- Graft.
In all cases, work begins at the end of May or at the beginning of June. For cuttings, green shoots of a three-thorn tree are used. They are first grown in greenhouse conditions (for example, under a jar), watered regularly.
Mature three-thorn trees can be propagated by root suckers.They appear in large quantities in the tree trunk circle. Grafting is available only for garden forms of three-thorned honey locust. It is made using standard methods, for example, by splitting or budding.
For propagation, seeds are collected from beans in late autumn
Diseases and pests
One of the interesting features of three-spined honey locust is the presence of phytoncides in the plant tissues of the leaves. These same substances are present, for example, in garlic. They repel pests and lead to the death of some bacteria.
Therefore, insects rarely parasitize three-thorned trees. Only garden bugs pose a certain danger. To prevent invasion, it is necessary to treat three-spined honey locust with insecticides every spring, for example:
- "Vertimek";
- "Karbofos";
- "Aktara".
Due to excess moisture, the tree can suffer from various types of rot. Effective fungicides are used for treatment and prevention:
- "Abiga Peak";
- "Profit";
- "Tattu."
Useful properties of honey locust
Three-spined honey locust produces a fairly powerful, dense crown with good growth rates. You can create a hedge based on a tree if you initially plant seedlings at intervals of 50-100 cm. The thickets turn out to be very powerful, reaching a height of 3-5 m, forming a green fence. It completely protects the area from wind and dust.
Also, the three-thorn tree produces a powerful root system that structures the soil well. This is especially useful for sandy soils, as well as when planting along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water.
Another useful property of three-thorned honey locust is the formation of numerous fragrant flowers. They attract bees, which significantly increases the pollination of all plants.
The medical use of three-thorned honey locust is also known.Decoctions and infusions based on plant materials help with diseases of the digestive tract:
- gastritis;
- ulcers;
- inflammation of the gallbladder;
- constipation
The described remedies can only be used in consultation with a doctor.
Honey locust as a honey plant
Although the three-thorned tree does not produce very beautiful flowers, they appear in large quantities and serve as a source of nectar for bees. Three-thorned acacia is used as a honey plant due to its high productivity - about 250 kg of honey per 1 ha.
Moreover, these data correspond to short trees, reaching 6-7 m. In the south, larger plants can be grown, which will produce much more honey from a similar planting area.
Properties and uses of honey locust wood
One of the important advantages of three-thorned honey locust is its valuable heartwood. It has different shades on the cut, depending on the age of the tree and the climatic features of the area, as well as the soil:
- light brown;
- cherry;
- reddish.
The wood pattern of the three-spined honey locust is contrasting, and the density is very high, reminiscent of oak
Since wood can withstand even strong impacts, can be varnished and does not rot for a long time, the material is used for the production of:
- furniture;
- finishing panels;
- plywood;
- ornamental materials.
Photos in landscape design
Three-spined honey locust looks great in single plantings. It spreads its crown wide and attracts attention. It is advisable to plant such a tree in an open area so that it can be freely approached from any direction.
Three-spined honey locust is also used to form a hedge. The main uses of wood in garden design are shown below:
- Single landing.
- Accommodation close to home.
- Planting three-thorned honey locust in the backyard.
- Three-thorned seedling in a pot.
Conclusion
Honey locust three-spined is a rather unusual tree, from which you can form a beautiful hedge or use it for a single planting. They are grown mainly in warm regions, although planting is possible in the Moscow region and the middle zone. The tree does not require maintenance, but in the first years it needs mulching and shelter for the winter.
