Looking for Improved Honey Locust Seeds or Seedpods

I want to plant several hundred improved (Hershey, Calhoun, etc) honey locusts around my farm. My two main problems are finding seeds or seedlings and not being super wealthy to be able to afford that many seedlings.

I've heard that I could travel to Downingtown, PA and just gather seedpods from the area where Mr Hershey used to have his trees since many of them are still there and on public land. Is that true? Could someone who lives closer go gather them and just ship them to me for $?

Jimmy, welcome to the forum.

I can help you to gather seeds though I found a couple of sources here:

https://permies.com/t/71388/honey-locust-pods-seeds

https://permies.com/t/92029/Twisted-Tree-Nursery-NY-USA

Hi Jimmy.  Welcome to Permies!

I have to ask out of curiosity about what differentiates an improved Honey Locust from a standard variety.  I have a bunch of Honey Locust by me and I would enthusiastically tell you that you can take all of mine—their thorns cause me nothing but agony.  Do improved varieties have shorter or no thorns?  Also, I am curious as to what Honey Locusts will do for you.

In any case, I wish you luck on your search.

Eric

there are varieties with no thorns, but the ‘improved’ varieties mostly focus on production and sugar/protein content of pods. usually with animal fodder in mind.

Greg,

Thanks for that clarification.  After accidentally puncturing tires on my tractor with Honey Locust thorns, I never really gave Honey Locust much thought as a useful plant.  Good to know that they do have some value.

Eric

I found suppliers for the Hershey Honey Locust:

The Hershey Honeylocust was selected by John Hershey of Pennsylvania as one of several varieties to be used as a cattle feed and for the possibility of developing an on farm sugar source. Mr. Hershey was hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Depression for their tree improvement program to help rural people to improve their lot on the farm. The selections he made were from all across the United States and his priorities were thornlessness, productivity and sugar content. The tree produces huge numbers of long pods that fall in late fall and early winter. They are highly palatable to cattle and other wildlife. Sugar content can reach 30%. The seeds have a high protein content and if gathered and ground make an excellent chicken feed.

https://rockbridgetrees.com/product/hershey-honeylocust/

1 year seedling $10.00:

https://spencercreeknursery.com/product/honey-locust-hershey-thornless/

Out of stock:

https://basspecan.com/products/hershey-honey-locust