I like Skyline where a large shade tree is needed without creating a heavy, dark canopy. The fine foliage gives pleasant filtered shade and the naturally regular structure makes it easier to manage than many large-growing trees. Its tolerance of heat, drought and urban conditions is another real advantage.
Honey Locust ‘Skyline’
25,00 €
A tough thornless honey locust with a regular pyramidal crown and fine green foliage turning golden yellow in autumn. A fast-growing shade tree particularly well suited to exposed and urban sites.
Honey Locust ‘Skyline’ is a classic selection of Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis, registered as the cultivar ‘Skycole’ and introduced in the United States in 1957.
The tree develops a strong central trunk with well-spaced ascending branches, naturally producing a regular pyramidal to broadly oval crown. Its fine pinnate leaves create attractive filtered shade without making the canopy feel heavy. The foliage remains green through summer before turning clear golden yellow in autumn.
‘Skyline’ is essentially thornless and is a male, virtually fruitless cultivar, avoiding most of the large seed pods produced by ordinary honey locust trees. It grows quickly and can eventually become a substantial shade tree.
One of its main strengths is adaptability. ‘Skyline’ tolerates summer heat, periods of drought, wind, urban pollution and a wide range of soils. It is therefore useful not only in large gardens but also as a street, avenue or park tree. Formative pruning when young helps maintain one strong central leader and a well-balanced crown.
Variety characteristics
Selected by the Cole Nursery Company in Painesville, Ohio, USA, and introduced in 1957. Plant Patent PP1619 was granted on 16 July 1957.
Origin and identity
Selected seedling, exact parentage unknown
Skyline®|Skycole|Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis ‘Skycole’
Growth and adaptation
Fast growing with a strong central leader and broadly pyramidal to oval crown. Mature trees commonly exceed 12–15 m and can become larger on favourable sites.
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