Honey bees
Nectar value
High
Pollen value
High
Pollinator plant
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Bee value
Who this plant supports
Agroforestry database
Complete plant information
Structure
- Vegetation layer
- Tree
- Size
- Large
- Dimensions
- 20.00 m high × 15.00 m wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Site conditions
- USDA hardiness
- 4-8
- Moisture
- Well-drained, Moist
- Soil
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Light
- Sun
Uses
- Edible parts
- Seed, Seed capsule, Coffee, Sap, Sweetener
- Functions
- Nitrogen fixer, Gum, Timber, Carbon farming
- Edibility
- 3 out of 5
- Medicinal value
- 2 out of 5
Seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and can contain up to 30% sugar. Young seeds taste similar to raw peas. In maritime regions, they may not thrive because the tree prefers long, hot summers. The oval seeds are about 8 mm long and contain 10.6-24.1% protein, 0.8-4.3% fat, 84.7% carbohydrates, 21.1% fiber, 4% ash, as well as 280 mg of calcium and 320 mg of phosphorus per 100 g. These seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute. The seed pods have flesh that is sweet and can be eaten raw or processed into sugar. Young seed pods can be cooked and eaten, while the pulp in older pods can be bitter. The seed pods can be up to 40 cm long and 4 cm wide. A sweet, pleasant drink can be made from the seed pods, and the pulp of the seed is used to make beverages.