Scientific Name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Common Name: black locust
Native Range: Eastern and central United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant type & Form: Medium sized, suckering, deciduous tree with a broadly columnar form and open irregular crown
Height: 30.00 to 80.00 feet
Spread: 20.00 to 35.00 feet
Bloom Time: May – June
Bloom Description: White
Flower: White, fragrant pendant racemes (clusters of flowers attached by short stalks), similar to wisteria flowers
Fruit: Smooth, flat, purple-brown seed pods (4-5″ long)
Leaf: Attractive compound leaves, dark blue-green pinnate leaves containing approximately 20 lance-shaped to ovate leaflets
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Soil type & pH: Tolerates a wide range of soils including sandy but prefers moist, organically rich loams
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Flowering tree, Naturalize
Tolerates: Deer, drought, clay soil, black walnut, air pollution
Notes: This plant is considered a noxious weed in several Midwestern states and spreads through self-seeding and root suckers. It fixes nitrogen in the soil and grows easily in difficult areas.
Identification notes: Look for the compound, pinnate leaflets. The trunk will often be crooked and the bark is typically dark brown with a braided texture.
Information gathered from Missouri Botanical Garden
