Homeowners, especially those who live in new developments, are always looking for suitable trees that will be ornamental and provide some shade.
The ideal tree, which combines hardiness, rapid growth, toughness, resistance to diseases and pests, attractive foliage, and desirable form, is hard to find. A tree may possess all the qualities but one, but that would be just enough to disqualify it.
During the past few years, homeowners, nursery workers, superintendents, and city planners have been attracted by the new Moraine locust, a form of the common honey locust.
The species from which this hybrid was derived is the familiar honey-locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), long planted as a city and home garden tree for its feathery foliage and graceful form.
However, it had two objectionable features: long, sharp-pointed thorns, which drop or break occasionally to become a hazard, and large, bean-like pods, which must be raked and gathered from sidewalks and streets, and home lawns after they drop.
Thornless Honey-Locust
One of these undesirable features was overcome in a variety known as the Thornless Honey-Locust.
As its common name reveals, it has no thorns, and because of its satisfactory rate of growth, immunity to pests, and nearly vase-shaped form, it was recommended as a substitute for the American elm.
Like the elm, it also could grow in many types of situations. Its fine fern-like foliage admitted the passage of filtered sunshine, thus enabling grass to grow well under it. Yet it still had the unsightly pods, which required periodic raking.
Moraine Locust
To solve this problem of the pods, a new selection was developed, one without the thorns or the fruiting pods.
This is called the Moraine locust (C. I. inermis Moraine) and is widely planted in place of the American elm, whose vase form it possesses. It also has rich, dark-green foliage, which persists longer in the fall than in the type.
Because of its lacy foliage, grass can be grown to perfection beneath its shade.
The Moraine locust is a rapid grower, and records show that trees 2” inches in diameter have attained heights of 25’ to 30’ feet in seven years.
The bark is smooth and brownish, and trets are resistant to diseases and insect pests, including borers which often plague the black locust (Robinia, pseudoacacia).
Young specimens offered by nursery workers are usually rather ungainly in appearance because of their rapid growth habit.
When set out in exposed areas, they need to be staked. Pruning the top growth also helps to strengthen the stems. Care should be taken in staking to use covered wire to prevent girdling the bark.
However, once established, this rapidly growing tree assumes its graceful upright form and vigor speedily. The lacy effect of its foliage and the shadow it casts is particularly pleasing.
Specimens observed recently in large industrial plantings and home gardens show promise for their future beauty and usefulness.
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