Robinia pseudoacacia - Black Locust (Leguminosae) ------Robinia pseudoacacia is an urban-tolerant, U.S. -crisscrossing ridges and brown-orange interior native shade or street tree. Black Locust is known for furrows are a trait of an old tree fragrant, showy, white inflorescences in late May, USAGE quick growth in stressful situations, upright columnar Function habit, and often as a pioneer invader species. -native pioneer invader species -quickly forms groves by its seeds and suckering FEATURES -good for quick growth and shade, erosion control on Form embankments, and reclamation of barren lands -large tree (including strip mines) -to 50' tall x 25' wide -wood is hard and rot resistant with a yellow to green -upright with a single interior wood; used for fence posts or any situation trunk that quickly where rot resistance is needed yields a few major Texture upright branches -medium in foliage and bold when bare -rapid growth rate Assets Culture -quick growth and shade under adverse conditions -full sun to partial -showy fragrant inflorescences in late May shade -flowering at a young age -very urban tolerant, Liabilities especially in its -prickly stems adaptability to poor -locust borer can be a problem to the wood and stem soils integrity -does not tolerate poor -poor autumn color drainage -short-lived -rare in the trade; when available, B&B or bare root -does not Foliage flower yearly -dark blue-green -insect prone -deciduous Habitat -alternate -Zones 4 to 8 -pinnately -Native to compound Eastern U.S. -leaf 1-2' long, (Appalachian leaflets may be and Ozark notched at apex Mountains) -autumn color yellowish green to SELECTIONS green Alternates Flowers -trees with showy or fragrant late spring -white; late May to inflorescences (Cercis canadensis, Cladrastis early June kentukea, etc.) -pendulous -trees with very upright growth habits (Ailanthus inflorescences that altissima) are showy white -trees with rapid growth under stressful situations, and fragrant but last only a couple of weeks especially poor soil in exposed sites (Ailanthus -to 8" long altissima) -tree flowering at a young age Cultivars – Variants – Related species Fruits -the straight species is grown in reclamation sites -green flat pods to 4" long, turning brown and -a few cultivars of R. pseudoacacia are available: persisting into early winter -'Frisia' - has yellowish leaves in early summer, Twigs extremely popular in England -olive-brown changing to brown -'Purple Robe' - has lavender flowers -fairly slender -'Tortuosa' - has twisted branches -zigzag -'Umbraculifera' - has a globe shape form and is -borne with single or double prickles at some nodes essentially thornless Trunk -single-trunked with several upright branches -light brown -becoming lightly furrowed in youth then deeply ridged and furrowed with age