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Chinese Honey Locust Flower Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae

Chinese Honey Locust Flower

Gleditsia sinensis

Defense and provision.

Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Gleditsia
Native to
China
Bloom season
Spring
Type
tree
Height
40-60 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, adaptable
Water
low
Hardiness
6-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The massive thorns on the trunk and branches can grow up to 6 inches long and were once used as pins and nails.
  • The seed pods contain saponins and have been used as a natural soap substitute in China for centuries.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, the thorns are used as a remedy called 'zao jiao ci' for skin conditions.
  • The tree can fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for surrounding plants.
  • Mature trees can develop thorns so dense and formidable that they were planted as living defensive barriers.

Color meanings

0

protection

1

resourcefulness

2

resilience

Uses

  • natural soap production
  • traditional medicine
  • timber