Robinia pseudoacacia
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Copyright, Mark Brand, UConn Plant Database |
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy |
|
Black Locust is a medium-sized tree, growing up to 80 feet tall. It is easily recognized by its leaves and paired spines up to1/2 inch long. Black Locusts prefer sandy or rocky soil, and are most often found in old fields, open areas, woods, and streamsides. The leaves of this tree are pinnately compound, which means one leaf has many (7 - 19) leaflets on one main stem. Leaflets are always paired, except for the one on the end of the leaf. Leaf color is bluish-green on top, and pale underneath. The entire leaf is 6 to 12 inches long. Leaflets are oval-shaped and less than 2 inches long with no teeth and a bristle tip. At night leaflets fold up and droop. |
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service |
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
Paul Wray, Iowa State
University Black Locust
bark
is light gray with deep furrows.
The trunk is 1 to 2 feet wide. Spines grow on
twigs,
close to where the leaves are attached. They are always in
pairs. Black Locust
flowers
are small, about 3/4 inch long, and pear-shaped. They each
have five white petals, and many flowers grow together in a
droopy cluster,
4 to 8 inches long. This tree blooms in late
Spring. If flowers get
pollinated,
fruits will grow. Locust fruits
are pods,
and Black Locust has dark brown pods up to 4 inches long.
Pods stay attached to the tree in Winter, and each pod has
up to 14 seeds
in it. Black Locust often grows
alongside White Oak, Black Oak, Scarlet Oak, hickories,
American Beech, Red Maple, Silver Maple, American Basswood,
Yellow Poplar, Eastern Redcedar, American Elm, Black Cherry,
White Ash, Black Walnut, Sassafras, Flowering Dogwood,
Blackgum, and bluegrasses. Black Locust flowers are
pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. Seeds are eaten by
Northern Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, Wild Turkey, White-tailed
Deer, Eastern Cottontail, and squirrels. White-tailed Deer
also eat leaves and twigs. Many animals use this
tree for cover,
and cavities
in Black Locust are good homes for bird and other animals,
especially woodpeckers. Bill Cook, Michigan State
University
Copyright 2000, Joe DiTomaso
Paul Wray, Iowa State
University Black Locust is the
host
plant for Silver-spotted Skippers and Clouded Sulphur
butterflies. Black Locust does not
compete
well with other trees and does not tolerate
shade, so it often gets crowded out. It grows very fast, but
does not live long compared to most trees. It rarely lives
to be 100 years old. Black Locust can survive drought and
harsh winters. This tree can send up new
sprouts from roots and stumps, which may eventually turn
into new trees.
