The Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a deciduous tree native to North America, recognized for its adaptability and resilience in harsh urban environments. It is a popular choice for streetscapes and residential yards due to its tolerance for drought, pollution, and compacted soil. Modern landscaping primarily utilizes thornless and nearly seedless cultivars, known botanically as Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis. Among these, ‘Shademaster’ and ‘Sunburst’ are two frequently planted varieties. Choosing between them depends on the specific aesthetic and functional goals of the planting site.
Distinctive Visual Characteristics
The most noticeable difference between these two varieties lies in their foliage color and overall canopy shape. ‘Shademaster’ is known for its uniform, deep green foliage throughout the summer, providing a classic, dense appearance. Its canopy typically develops into a symmetrical, vase-like or upright-spreading form. It often reaches a mature height of 50 to 70 feet and a spread of 30 to 50 feet.
‘Sunburst’ is celebrated for its ornamental foliage, which begins the season with a bright, golden-yellow hue on its new growth. This vibrant color gradually softens to a lighter, greenish-yellow by mid-summer before returning to gold in the fall. The mature size of ‘Sunburst’ is notably smaller than ‘Shademaster’, generally topping out at 30 to 40 feet tall and wide. It tends to have a more open, irregular, and spreading crown, functioning more as an accent tree than a traditional shade tree.
Growth Patterns and Site Suitability
Both cultivars tolerate challenging urban conditions, including road salt and a wide range of soil pH levels. ‘Shademaster’ has a faster and more vigorous growth rate, often gaining 2 to 4 feet per year in its early life. This rapid growth allows it to quickly establish a large, substantial canopy.
‘Sunburst’ also grows quickly, but its overall vigor is slightly less than ‘Shademaster’. Both trees thrive in USDA Zones 4 through 8. The golden color of ‘Sunburst’ is best maintained in full sun, as planting it in too much shade can cause the yellow to fade into a duller green.
The quality of shade produced by each tree relates directly to its function. ‘Shademaster’ develops a denser canopy, providing a more profound, though still dappled, shade. ‘Sunburst’, due to its open branching and finer foliage texture, casts a lighter, filtered shade. This filtered shade allows for greater success when growing turfgrass or other plants beneath its canopy.
Maintenance and Landscape Function
Both ‘Shademaster’ and ‘Sunburst’ are thornless and functionally seedless, which significantly reduces messy litter. The small, delicate leaflets of both varieties break down quickly, often eliminating the need for extensive fall raking. However, their differing structural needs influence maintenance requirements.
‘Shademaster’ develops a strong central leader, requiring less corrective pruning early in its life to establish a sound structure. ‘Sunburst’, with its naturally open and irregular growth habit, may require more attention in its younger years to shape the tree and prevent structural issues. Both cultivars are susceptible to pests like the honeylocust plant bug and spider mites. ‘Sunburst’ is sometimes noted as being more susceptible to certain insect problems than the green-leaved varieties.
The final choice rests on the primary goal for the planting location. ‘Shademaster’ is the superior choice when the objective is to establish rapid, large-scale, and substantial shade over a patio or large lawn. When the primary desire is a striking ornamental accent that introduces bright, season-long color, the smaller, golden-foliaged ‘Sunburst’ is the appropriate selection.