These have been put together because they are in the Fabaceae family. The Fabaceae is the pea, bean or legume family, so any other trees, within the park, that come within this category will be include here beside the Honey locusts and the Laburnum.
Honey locust
Honey locust trees are a native of central North America where the wild varieties have rather large thorns. These thorns are initially soft, when green, but become longer and harder. Thorns of younger trees have been used as nails.
The name of the tree has nothing to do with being a source of nectar for bees to produce honey but has more to do with the sweet taste of the pulp in the pods which the tree produces as its fruit. The trees are dioecious, meaning that trees are either male or female and have distinct male and female flowers. Only the female tree will bear fruit. I have no idea what sex the two Honey locusts are, in the park, as I have not yet seen them flower. The flowers are, apparently, strongly scented cream coloured flowers that appear in late Spring.
Colour garden
This small Honey locust is in one of the flower beds, in the colour garden, which is just below the bowling green. It’s called the colour garden because the beds are planted in various different colours. The Honey locust begins to leaf in late April to May and the leaves are bright yellow to begin with but by July they have turned green.
Car park triangle
This Honey locust is in the triangular area just across from the car park. This whole area has a mix of interesting trees in it, this is just one of them.
Kings Heath Park Trees 