Botanical name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Family: Fabaceae (pea)

Click on images of Black Locust to enlarge.

• Native
• Deciduous
• Medium size tree growing up to 75-95′ in height and 25-30′ wide canopy
• Fairly straight trunk with many alternate branches that lack a terminal bud
• Monoecious
• Heavily furrowed and very fibrous, ridged bark
• Long (10-14″), pinnate, compound leaves with 7-19 oval leaflets, one at the tip
• White, fragrant flowers that hang downward in elongated clusters appear in late spring
• Fruit is small pods
• Roots tend to create many suckers sometimes forming thicket
• Though it is not considered a commercial wood it is a very durable wood for outside projects such as fence post.
• Makes good burning firewood
• Fast growing
• Full to partial sun
• Nitrogen fixer
• On invasive species list in some states
• Related to honeylocust
• Zones 6-10