08/28/2026
Wood Species Spotlight | #005
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
You may recognize honey locust by its distinctive seed pods, but there's much more to this remarkable hardwood than meets the eye.
The face grain (left) highlights the wood's natural color and grain, while the end grain (10×, right) reveals the microscopic structures unique to the species.
Three things that make Honey Locust stand out:
It glows under UV light
Honey locust contains natural compounds called extractives that fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light, causing the wood to glow a bright yellow-green. It's one of the more striking examples of fluorescence in a North American hardwood.
Its thorns may be relics of the Ice Age
Wild honey locust trees can produce large, branched thorns on their trunks and branches. Many scientists believe these formidable thorns evolved to protect the tree from giant browsing mammals like mammoths and giant ground sloths that once lived in North America.
The seed pods are surprisingly sweet
The sticky pulp inside mature honey locust seed pods is naturally sweet—a feature that inspired the tree's common name. Wildlife and livestock have long eaten the sugary pulp, helping disperse the seeds.
Have you ever come across a honey locust tree in the wild? Tell us where you spotted it—or share a photo in the comments!
Photos courtesy of The Wood Database:
https://www.wood-database.com/
