{"product_id":"imperial-honeylocust","title":"Imperial Honeylocust","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Compact Honeylocust With Light, Lawn-Friendly Shade\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImperial Honeylocust (\u003cem\u003eGleditsia triacanthos\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Impcole') brings all the easy charm of a honeylocust to a smaller, tidier package. Its uniform, vase-shaped crown tops out around 30 to 35 feet, and the fine ferny foliage casts a light, dappled shade rather than heavy gloom — perfect for a lawn or patio where you want relief from the sun without shading out the grass and garden below. Thornless and seedless, it's clean and low-maintenance, with golden-yellow fall color. Tough and hardy to zone 4, it handles drought, salt, and urban stress with ease. Whether you're planting a right-sized shade tree in Edina, a patio tree in Plymouth, or a clean lawn specimen in Woodbury, Imperial fits comfortably into smaller yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImperial Honeylocust Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eGleditsia triacanthos\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Impcole' (Imperial)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImperial Honeylocust, Thornless Honeylocust\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30–35 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30–35 feet — compact, uniform vase shape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for best form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Drought-tolerant once established; appreciates consistent moisture while young.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, compacted urban soil, drought, and road salt.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — fine, ferny green compound leaves, turning golden yellow in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThorns \u0026amp; Pods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThornless and seedless — clean and low-litter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight, dappled — lawns and perennials grow well beneath it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood — generally not a preferred browse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImperial Honeylocust Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRight-Sized Shade for Smaller Yards\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a compact 30–35 feet, Imperial is the honeylocust for yards too small for the big boulevard cultivars. Its tidy vase shape makes it a well-proportioned shade tree for a typical suburban lot or patio area in Edina or Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLight, Lawn-Friendly Shade\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fine, dappled shade is its calling card — you get cooling relief without the heavy gloom that kills grass beneath denser trees, so lawns and perennials thrive right up to the trunk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClean, Low-Maintenance Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThornless, seedless, salt- and drought-tolerant, Imperial is an easy, dependable choice with very little litter — great for lawns, patios, and street-side spots alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Imperial Honeylocust in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoneylocust is deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works well. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting when heat stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Imperial Honeylocust\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots out of standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Allow room for the 30–35 foot mature spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk the first winter or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Imperial Honeylocust in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Imperial Honeylocust is notably drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Imperial Honeylocust survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's hardy to about -30°F and well adapted to the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is it different from the bigger honeylocusts?\u003c\/strong\u003e Imperial is more compact (30–35 feet) with a tidy vase shape and especially light shade, making it ideal for smaller yards where Skyline or Shademaster would be too large.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it thorny or messy?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — it's thornless and seedless, so there are no hazardous thorns and very little litter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan grass grow under it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its especially light, dappled shade is among the most lawn-friendly of any shade tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyline Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — a larger uniform pyramidal green honeylocust for bigger yards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunburst Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — a golden-foliaged thornless honeylocust with butter-yellow new growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStreet Keeper Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — the narrowest columnar honeylocust for tight spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRuby Dayze Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a compact flowering tree for color in a smaller yard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Imperial Honeylocust Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImperial Honeylocust is a specimen shade tree, not a hedging plant. One tree comfortably shades a patio or a typical suburban front lawn. If you're planting more than one — along a driveway or property line — space them 30–35 feet apart so the compact vase-shaped crowns can develop fully without crowding. For a layered look, pair a single Imperial with lower ornamentals rather than massing multiple honeylocusts in a small yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImperial Honeylocust Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out relatively late (a honeylocust trait), which protects the fine new foliage from late Twin Cities frosts; fresh ferny green leaves emerge in May.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The fine, compound foliage casts light, dappled shade — grass and perennials keep growing right beneath the canopy while you get cooling relief.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns a clear golden yellow; the tiny leaflets mostly filter into the lawn, so there's little raking compared with large-leaved shade trees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A tidy, uniform vase-shaped silhouette with no seed pods to drop; handles road salt spray near driveways and streets without complaint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/skyline-honeylocust\"\u003eSkyline Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — the larger pyramidal honeylocust where you have room for a full-size boulevard tree.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sunburst-honeylocust\"\u003eSunburst Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — golden new growth for a bright color echo of Imperial's fall display.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/street-keeper-honeylocust\"\u003eStreet Keeper Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — the narrow columnar form for tight side yards and street strips.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ruby-dayze-crabapple\"\u003eRuby Dayze Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — a compact flowering tree that thrives in the light shade beneath and beside Imperial.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Imperial Honeylocust Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Imperial if you have a smaller suburban lot in full sun and want real shade without sacrificing the lawn beneath — it shrugs off clay, compaction, drought, and road salt, and deer generally leave it alone. It's not the right fit if you want deep, dense shade or maximum screening: the airy canopy is deliberately light, and its 30–35-foot spread still needs room to develop, so skip it for very tight side yards (choose Street Keeper instead).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260810678577,"sku":"GT-T1965","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260810711345,"sku":"GT-T1966","price":507.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/imperial-honeylocust.jpg?v=1779426698","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/imperial-honeylocust","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}