Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is considered an excellent choice for firewood, ranking among the best hardwoods available. It provides high heat output and a long, consistent burn time, making it a desirable fuel source for heating. The wood’s inherent density and low moisture absorption rate contribute to its performance in a fireplace or wood stove. While the tree presents unique challenges during processing, the resulting firewood offers reliable, high-quality heat.
Defining Honey Locust Wood
Honey locust is a deciduous hardwood tree native to the central United States, found from Nebraska to Pennsylvania and south to Texas and Georgia. Classified as a dense hardwood, it possesses a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1,580 pounds-force, making it harder than many common firewoods like White Oak. This high density is the reason for its performance as fuel, packing more combustible material into each log.
The heartwood is typically a medium to light reddish-brown, while the wide sapwood is a light yellow color. It exhibits a ring-porous grain structure, similar to Red Oak, which contributes to its strength. The wood is naturally resistant to decay, holding up well in storage once correctly seasoned.
Heat Output and Fire Performance
Honey locust produces a significant amount of heat when burned. Its energy content is rated around 26.5 to 27.9 million British Thermal Units (BTUs) per cord. This places it above species like White Oak and Sugar Maple in terms of heat output per volume.
The high density ensures a slow, sustained burn, making it ideal for maintaining a fire overnight. It creates a bed of hot coals that continue to deliver heat long after the flames have subsided. When properly seasoned, honey locust produces minimal smoke, which helps reduce creosote buildup in chimneys. However, the wood tends to spark and pop, so it is safer to burn it inside a closed wood stove or a fireplace with a protective screen.
Essential Preparation and Handling
Processing honey locust requires careful attention, primarily due to the large, sharp thorns found on many natural varieties of the tree. These thorns can be long and numerous, posing a significant puncture hazard to skin, tires, and footwear. It is advisable to wear heavy-duty gloves, puncture-resistant boots, and protective clothing when handling the logs.
The thorns should be removed from the trunk and branches before cutting the wood, often by scraping them off with a chainsaw bar or a hatchet. Despite its hardness, honey locust is manageable to split, though logs with knots or interlocked grain can be challenging. Due to its density, the wood requires a seasoning period of 12 to 18 months, or up to two years in some environments. Stacking the split wood off the ground with good airflow is necessary to achieve the optimal moisture content for an efficient burn.