{"product_id":"northern-acclaim-honeylocust","title":"Northern Acclaim Honeylocust","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Toughest, Cold-Hardiest Shade Tree for Northern Yards\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthern Acclaim Honeylocust (\u003cem\u003eGleditsia triacanthos\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Harve') was selected at North Dakota State University for one job: surviving brutal northern winters. It's an exceptionally cold-hardy, zone 3 honeylocust that's also thornless, seedless, and tolerant of poor soil, drought, and road salt — making it one of the toughest broad shade trees you can plant in Minnesota. You get the classic honeylocust virtues — fast growth, fine ferny foliage, lawn-friendly dappled shade, and golden fall color — on a tree built for the harshest sites. Whether you're planting fast shade in Lakeville, a boulevard tree in St. Paul, or a dependable shade tree in the coldest exurbs, Northern Acclaim delivers where hardiness matters most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthern Acclaim 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 'Harve' (Northern Acclaim)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern Acclaim Honeylocust, Thornless Honeylocust\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30–35 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast\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\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — among the most cold-hardy honeylocusts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Tolerates poor soil, 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 -40°F or colder — bred for zone 3\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\u003eNorthern Acclaim Honeylocust Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eToughest Shade Tree for Cold, Harsh Sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBred at NDSU for the northern plains, Northern Acclaim handles bitter cold, poor soil, drought, and salt better than almost any shade tree — the go-to honeylocust for exposed rural-edge lots and the coldest outer-ring suburbs where other trees struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFast Boulevard and Lawn Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts fast growth and tolerance of urban stress make it an excellent boulevard and street tree, and a reliable fast-shade choice for an open lawn in Edina or Plymouth. Thornless and seedless, it stays clean and easy to manage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLawn-Friendly Light Shade\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fine, dappled shade lets grass and perennials thrive right up to the trunk, so you get shade without sacrificing the lawn or garden beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Northern Acclaim 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 Northern Acclaim 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 Northern Acclaim 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 Northern Acclaim 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 Northern Acclaim Honeylocust survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — it was bred at NDSU for zone 3 and is reliable to -40°F or colder, making it one of the hardiest shade trees available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is it different from Skyline or Shademaster?\u003c\/strong\u003e Northern Acclaim is bred specifically for extreme cold hardiness (zone 3), so it's the better choice for the coldest sites, while Skyline and Shademaster are excellent zone 4 boulevard trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it thorny or messy?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — it's thornless and seedless, one of the cleanest, lowest-litter shade trees you can plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan grass grow under it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its fine, dappled shade is lawn-friendly, letting grass and perennials thrive right up to the trunk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNorthern Sentinel Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — the narrow columnar, cold-hardy version of this line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyline Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — the classic uniform pyramidal green honeylocust.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShademaster Honeylocust\u003c\/strong\u003e — a vigorous, upright-arching green honeylocust.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a majestic, bombproof native shade tree for tough sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Northern Acclaim Honeylocust Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne tree shades a patio or south lawn — give a single specimen 30–35 feet of clearance from the house and other large trees so the spreading crown develops evenly. For a boulevard or driveway row, space trees 30–35 feet apart; because the dappled shade is lawn-friendly, rows can run right along turf without killing the grass beneath. On windy acreage, a staggered double row at 25–30 feet doubles as a tough, salt-proof shelterbelt backbone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthern Acclaim Honeylocust Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the later trees to leaf out — a built-in frost-dodging habit — then the fine, ferny compound leaves unfurl a fresh bright green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growth and light, dappled shade that keeps the lawn alive underneath; small fragrant flowers hum with bees in early summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns clear golden yellow, and the tiny leaflets practically disappear into the lawn — the easiest fall cleanup of any large shade tree.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e An open, picturesque branch structure that shrugs off -40°F; no pods or thorns means nothing to pick up come spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-sentinel-honeylocust\"\u003eNorthern Sentinel Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — the narrow columnar version of the same extra-hardy line for tighter spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/skyline-honeylocust\"\u003eSkyline Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — the classic pyramidal boulevard honeylocust for zone 4 sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shademaster-honeylocust\"\u003eShademaster Honeylocust\u003c\/a\u003e — the vigorous, upright-arching premium lawn tree of the family.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bur-oak\"\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the bombproof native prairie oak; pair them for a tough, generations-long canopy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Northern Acclaim Honeylocust Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your site is cold, exposed, salty, or has poor compacted soil — and you still want fast shade with grass growing beneath — this is the tree. It's the honeylocust to choose in the coldest exurbs and open prairie-edge lots where zone 4 selections run a risk. Not a fit if you want deep, dense shade or heavy screening: its canopy is intentionally light and dappled, so for a dark, cool block of shade choose a maple or linden instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260810744113,"sku":"GT-T1971.5","price":384.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260810776881,"sku":"GT-T1972","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260810809649,"sku":"GT-T1974","price":493.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260810842417,"sku":"GT-T1976","price":535.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/northern-acclaim-honeylocust.jpg?v=1779426698","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/northern-acclaim-honeylocust","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}