Gleditsia triacanthos Goofy - Honey locust, Thorny locust.

The Acacia de tres espinas 'Goofy' is a very curious variety of American Gleditsia. It is a small deciduous tree with an irregular and sparsely branched habit, without thorns, whose zigzag branches bear clusters of green, shiny leaves. The more or less yellow autumn foliage is not very spectacular. Plant enthusiasts will grow it as a solitary specimen. Its somewhat ghostly silhouette, interesting even in winter, will stand out in a well-cleared location.

The Acacia de tres espinas 'Goofy' was selected in 1991 by Peter Cave in Hamilton, New Zealand. The species type, the American Gleditsia, is a tree of the Fabaceae family related to the carob tree native to the eastern and central United States (from Nebraska, through Pennsylvania, down to Texas). It grows rapidly on fresh soil. Young plants need protection from severe cold, but an adult tree will withstand temperatures well below -15°C. Once well rooted, the American Gleditsia copes well with summer drought. It tolerates almost all soils except those that are too acidic.

The Acacia de tres espinas 'Goofy' shows moderately rapid growth, depending on the growing conditions. This ungrafted cultivar reaches between 4 and 5 m in height, with its branches spreading as much. It is characterized by an irregular, sparse, and loose branch structure. The main trunk, always upright, rarely branches out, and the branches that emerge from it are more or less drooping and sparsely branched. The slender, reddish, zigzag or twisted twigs are covered with small clustered leaves, barely resembling the typical leaves of the species. The foliage turns yellow before falling in October-November. The trunk has a beautiful dark bark marked with crevices, initially reddish-brown, turning grey. This tree almost never bears flowers and does not fruit. It has a deep, pivot root system that requires a soil of good depth.

The Acacia de tres espinas 'Goofy' is a specimen tree to be welcomed in a large garden. Its highly unusual structure will be complemented by a carpet of Serpentinas or Black Ophiopogons at its base.

One may wonder why the American Gleditsias (Gleditsia) are not more commonly planted in France, which seems to only welcome the albizia, despite being less hardy and not easier to cultivate. Perhaps due to its thorns (though absent in some varieties) and its insignificant flowering, largely compensated by the splendor of its foliage.

An ornamental tree and utility plant, the Gleditsia has hard, dense, reddish-brown wood used locally for making posts, railway sleepers, and also valued in cabinetmaking. Its protein-rich foliage is excellent fodder for livestock. This highly adaptable tree, thriving in rich, moist, or even poorly drained soil, ultimately tolerates dry, poor, and limestone soils once deeply rooted, of course.