Images of the Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

This large tree, also called False Acacia or Yellow Locust, is native to the eastern United States and introduced in Canada. It produces very fragrant clusters of white, edible flowers during a short (about 10 days) blooming period in the spring. In the eastern United States, it is considered a major, though sometimes unreliable, flower for honey bees to visit.

Habitat:Dry to moist soils, especiallythose derived from limestone, on roadsides and disturbed sites, woodlands old fields.

Growth Habit:Deciduous medium-sized tree growing up to 24 m. Trunk is straight with irregular branching. Forms thickets.

Bloom Time:Spring.

Longevity:Short-lived, usually less than 100 years.

Presence in US:AL AR CA CO CT DC DE FL GA IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Presence in Canada:BC NB NS ON QC

This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).