Northern Acclaim Honeylocust

If you want a shade tree that won’t make you work for it, the Northern Acclaim Honeylocust is the perfect candidate. Developed at North Dakota State University, this variety is arguably the most cold-hardy honeylocust on the market. It offers a beautiful, open-spreading canopy that provides "dappled" shade—letting just enough light through so your grass can actually grow underneath it, while still keeping your patio cool.

The best part? It is completely thornless and seedless. You get the elegant, fine-textured foliage without the messy seed pods or the hazardous spikes found on wild varieties. It’s incredibly tough, shrugging off urban pollution, salt, and drought like a pro. In the fall, the small leaflets turn a bright, cheery yellow and essentially disappear into the lawn when they drop, saving you hours of raking. If you need a fast-growing, low-maintenance canopy that can survive a "polar vortex," this is your tree.