Gleditsia aquatica aka Swamp Locust

Gleditsia aquatica, also known as water locust or swamp locust, is a deciduous tree that is native to the Southeastern United States and adjacent regions. It can be found in river swamps and slough margins, and its range stretches from South Carolina to central Florida, across Louisiana to eastern Texas, and up the Mississippi River valley to southern Illinois and Indiana. This tree can grow up to 90 feet tall, with bipinnately compound leaves that are 12-30 inches long and oval-shaped leaflets that are 1-3 inches long. The bark of the trunk and branches is grayish-brown and has 3-5 inch long thorns. Water locust produces small, greenish-white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring that bloom in clusters on twig-like structures. The fruit is a 1-2 inch long flat pod that is dark brown and shiny, containing one flattened, round seed. Water locust can grow in both sunny and shady conditions, as long as it receives plenty of water. It is a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and prefers long-lasting, direct light that is less than 1 foot from a window. The plant likes well-draining soil and may benefit from a gentle, organic fertilizer during the peak growing season.