Honey Locust

Native to Central and Eastern North America, the honey locust tree as we know it has an ancient history dating back millions of years ago to the Pleistocene epoch. It is thought that large herbivores, such as wooly mammoths and giant ground sloths, played a large role in seed distribution by carefully avoiding the tree’s thorns to browse on the dangling pods, spreading the seeds through their droppings.

Even after losing its primary seed distributors to extinction, the honey locust thrives today, thanks in large part to humans. People appreciate the tree’s ornamental qualities—the fragrant yet inconspicuous flowers, twisting seed pods, striking maroon thorns, and delicate, pinnate leaves that transform from green to gold in the fall make it an attractive addition to home and commercial landscapes.

As a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), the honey locust produces dark brown seed pods that, though dry and flat, clearly outline the seeds within. Unlike their plumper relatives like sugar snap peas, honey locust pods have traditionally been used for brewing teas and alcoholic beverages rather than for casual snacking. The seeds themselves are most commonly roasted and used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute. The sweet green pulp inside the pods has a unique flavor—some say it’s reminiscent of carob or banana, while others simply describe it as distinctly “honey locust-y.” Whole pods can also be dried and ground into powder to flavor drinks or baked goods.

Honey locust wood is prized for its strength and durability, often used to craft hand tools, furniture, fence posts, and even as a hot, clean-burning firewood. Beyond its lumber value, the tree’s striking thorns serve practical purposes. Young thorns, with their rich maroon hue, gradually age to a brittle brown and have been historically used as fish hooks, sewing needles, pins, nails, and even weapons. Many cultivated honey locust trees are thornless varieties, eliminating the hazards posed by its sharp thorns in favor of safer ornamental uses.

While the honey locust’s distinctive flowers are attractive and fragrant, they aren’t as widely celebrated as those of its cousin, the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). However, they provide valuable nectar for a variety of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, sweat bees, and flies. The honey locust also serves as a host plant for several moth and butterfly species, such as the beautifully colored honey locust moth (Syssphinx bicolor), whose gold and magenta wings compliment autumn leaves.

Beyond its appeal to insects, honey locust trees play an important role in supporting a variety of wildlife. The seed pods are a seasonal treat for deer, squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons, while also serving as a historical food source for now-extinct species like the American mastodon mentioned earlier, or the Carolina parakeet (North America’s native parrot). Although many animals consume the pods, the large seeds are often passed undigested, helping to disperse the species across the landscape.

In addition to food, honey locust trees provide important shelter. Their thorny thickets offer cover for small animals, and their sturdy branches serve as roosting sites for birds such as the eastern screech owl and mammals like the eastern red bat. Even in winter, deer and livestock browse on young shoots and bark.

Despite its beauty and usefulness, honey locust trees can spread aggressively in certain settings. While they provide ecological benefits in their native habitat, they can become invasive in areas outside their natural range, outcompeting native vegetation and even causing issues in agricultural fields by puncturing tires and invading pastures.

Often found along trails and near water in the wild, the honey locust is an adaptable pioneer species, quickly establishing itself in disturbed areas. It tolerates pollution and drought remarkably well, proving its strength and adaptability over its evolution, and holding promise that we’ll continue enjoying the honey locust tree for many years to come.