Water Locust 10 Seeds Gleditsia aquatica

Gleditsia aquatica, commonly known as the water locust or swamp locust, is a species of deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. This species belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae, and is found in wetlands, especially along riverbanks, swamps, and floodplains.

Key Features:

Size and Growth Habit: Water locusts can grow up to 30–40 feet (9–12 meters) tall, with a broad canopy. The tree typically has a rounded crown and spreads out to about 30 feet (9 meters) in width.

Leaves: The leaves are pinnately compound and alternate along the stem. Each leaf can have 10 to 20 leaflets. During the growing season, the leaves are bright green and turn yellow in the fall.

Flowers and Fruit: The tree produces small, yellowish-green flowers that appear in clusters. The flowers are inconspicuous but can attract pollinators. The fruit is a long, flat, and twisted pod, which can be up to 8 inches (20 cm) long, containing seeds.

Bark and Thorns: Gleditsia aquatica has thorny branches, which can be a distinguishing characteristic. The bark of the trunk is grayish-brown, and it may develop a scaly texture as the tree matures.

Habitat: This species thrives in wetland environments, often growing along riverbanks, floodplains, and in swampy areas. It is adapted to periodic flooding and has a high tolerance for wet soils.

Ecological Role: As a member of the legume family, Gleditsia aquatica is capable of fixing nitrogen in the soil, which benefits other plants growing in its vicinity.

Uses: While not as widely used as some other species in the Gleditsia genus, the water locust can be used for ornamental purposes in appropriate wetland landscapes. The pods of the tree are also sometimes used to make mulch or are ground for use in certain traditional applications.

The tree is typically found in the southeastern U.S., with its range extending from southern Texas to the Florida Panhandle and up to North Carolina.

Growing Instructions

Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat.

Soak the seed in water for 24 hours.

The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.

Put the seeds on the soil.

Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

Water the seeds.

Place the pots in an area in full sun or part shade.

When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.