Practical
Plants

Gleditsia koraiensis

Korean Honey Locust

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Gleditsia genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flesh inside the mature seedpod can be eaten[3].

Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit and the spines contain a number of medically active constituents including saponins and flavonoids[5]. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and expectorant, and have shown anti-HIV activity[5]. They are used in Korea in the treatment of coughs, constipation and liver diseases[5]. They should not be used by pregnant women since they have a stimulant effect upon the uterus and could induce a miscarriage[5].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Expectorant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - strong, durable, coarse-grained[7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Korea.
Habitat
Near streams in low mountain elevations[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[6]. The seed should have swollen up, in which case it can be sown, if it has not swollen then soak it for another 24 hours in warm water. If this does not work then file away some of the seed coat but be careful not to damage the embryo[6]. Further soaking should then cause the seed to swell. One it has swollen, the seed should germinate within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. This species is not recognised as distinct in the International Lgume Database and is more geerally viewed as a sub-species of G. japonica[5]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a loamy soil, requiring a sunny position[2]. Succeeds in most soils[4]. Tolerates drought once established[1] and atmospheric pollution[4]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the spring and drop their leaves in early autumn[4] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

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