275+ honey locust trees grow in Hudson River Park, making this the Park’s most ubiquitous tree species. Several different varieties grace our piers and uplands, such as shademaster, skyline and sunburst, each with a unique personality. This hardy, plentiful species offers park visitors shade and brilliant yellow fall color.
Origin: North America
Lifespan: 120 years
Height: 60 – 100 feet
What makes honey locusts unique:
- Honey locusts are resistant to pollution, ice and salt, ideal for the Hudson River
- The trunk and branches of many locust varieties have naturally long, sharp dangerous thorns. However, the Park’s locust trees are the thorns variety.
- Gray squirrels at Hudson River Park like to eat the gooey pulp inside the trees’ seed pods, the same sticky substance that gives the tree its name: ‘honey’
- Honey locust seed pods can grow to be more than a foot
