Robinia pseudoacacia

• BOTANICAL NAME: Robinia pseudoacacia
• COMMON NAME: Black Locust
• FAMILY: Fabaceae
• NATIVITY: New Jersey to Florida to Arkansas
• GROWTH HABIT:  30-50’ (90’); Tall, suckers everywhere, strong plant.
• HARDINESS:  USDA Zone 4 to 8 (9)
• OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS:  Open woods and drier soils and full sun.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:  Successional
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative Upland
• LANDSCAPE VALUE:  Grows well in desolate areas and often admired for the white fragrant flowers.
• FOLIAGE:   Alternate, pinnately compound and entire.  Bright to dark green and rounded leaflets.
• BUDS:  Small, 3 to 4 usually close together in clusters.
• BARK:  Very often twisted bark, dark gray in color and deeply furrowed.  Paired stipular spines throughout the stems.
• FRUIT:  Flat black pod.  Flowers are extremely fragrant and white, blooming in late spring.
• PESTS:  Canker, leaf spots, but none serious.