Here is the comparison the council is again failing everyone by planting Tulip trees to replace dead plane trees in high pedestrian and traffic areas. Tulip trees must only be planted in a park! 😡🤯

The North Sydney Council Urban Forest manager does not know what he/she is doing. Read below the Shademaster is a winner on all accounts and it won’t kill pedestrians. The council want a fast growing deciduous tree the Shademaster is 25% faster, it makes far less mess, handles for more heat, absorbs more pollution, produces more oxygenand it is one of few trees called “Urban Warriors”.

The Shademaster Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis 'Shademaster') is widely considered an "urban warrior" tree due to its extreme toughness, fast growth, and adaptability, making it far superior to the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) for constrained urban environments. While the Tulip Tree is a majestic, fast-growing specimen for large, open, and moist landscapes, it suffers from poor drought tolerance and weak wood, making it unsuitable for harsh streetscapes.   
 
Comparison: Shademaster Honey Locust vs. Tulip Tree
 
Feature    
Shademaster Honey Locust ("Urban Warrior")
Tulip Tree (Large Landscape Specimen)
Urban Toughness
Extremely High (Salt, drought, compaction, heat)
Low (Needs consistent moisture, poor salt tolerance)
Growth Rate
Fast (2-4ft/year)
Fast (2-3ft/year)
Mature Size
12-15m (40-50ft) tall, 8-10m wide
18-24m+ (60-80ft) tall, 12m+ wide
Shade Density
Light, dappled shade (allows grass growth)
Dense shade
Soil Tolerance
Wide tolerance (dry, clay, compact, high pH)
Prefers moist, deep, fertile soils
Maintenance
Low; thornless & nearly seedless
Medium; drops leaves/twigs, needs water
Litter/Cleanup
Small leaflets, easy cleanup
Large leaves, large twigs/limbs
Wood Strength
Strong
Weak (prone to storm/wind damage)
 
Shademaster Honey Locust: The "Urban Warrior"
The Shademaster is a thornless and nearly fruitless cultivar, selected specifically for its resilience in city environments.    
Adaptability: It survives compacted soil, air pollution, road salt, drought, and high heat, which are typical challenges in parking lots and street-side locations.
Canopy and Shade: Its small, fern-like leaflets provide a gentle, dappled shade that allows sunlight to filter through. This is ideal because it does not kill the grass beneath it.
Low Maintenance: The leaves turn golden-yellow in fall and are small enough to be easily managed or mulched into the ground.     
 
Tulip Tree: The "Large Landscape" Tree    
The Tulip Tree is a fast-growing, large-stature tree with unique tulip-shaped flowers, but it requires a very specific environment.    
Moisture Dependence: It is not drought-tolerant and requires consistently moist, deep soil to avoid stress, leaf scorch, and early leaf drop.
Weak Structure: It is weak-wooded, making it susceptible to limb breakage during high winds or ice storms, which makes it a liability near homes or on narrow streets.
Size Constraint: It grows far too tall and wide for small residential properties or restricted urban areas.     www.gardenia.net +2
 
Summary
Choose Shademaster Honey Locust for streetscapes, parking lots, small yards, or tough urban sites needing a hardy shade tree.
Choose Tulip Tree for large parks, open landscapes, or properties with ample space and consistent moisture.