Extension Forestry

Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia

Leaves are alternate, compound, with thorns or spines.
flower
Not native to Iowa, the black locust is included here because it has been planted so widely over the state, has escaped from cultivation and is sometimes found growing in mixture with native species.  Its natural range extends from Pennsylvania southwest ward to Alabama and west ward to southern Illinois.  It has been planted widely in Iowa for post production and erosion control.  The tree often suffers extensive damage from the locust borer insect.

The leaves are pinnately compound with 11 to 15 leaflets 1 to1-1/2 inches long, rounded at both ends and with smooth margins.

leaf The twigs are crooked and angular with short, stout, single, unbranched thorns, one-half inch long.

The fruit is a dark, red-brown, flexible pod 3 to 4 inches long, containing small, reddish brown beanlike seeds.

fruit On young branches the bark is smooth and greenish to brown incolor.  On older branches and trunks it is broken into a network of coarse, deep ridges and is gray to gray-brown in color.
 twig
 
 



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Contact: Paul Wray

Last Update: January, 2001