Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Other common names: False Acacia

Other scientific names: Pseudo-acacia odorata

French names: Robinier faux-acacia

Family: Legume Family (Fabaceae)

Group: Locusts

Distinctive features: Tree

Similar species:
  •   Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) - Large wicked thorns; seed pods are quite large.

  •   Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - No thorns; small seed pods.


Flowers: Summer;  White

Leaves: Compound

Books: Trees in Canada: 216   

Native/Non-native: Non-native

Photographs: 167 photographs available, of which 15 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust flowers. Very pretty!

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

A single Black Locust flower.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Flower buds, at the beginning of June.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust has small stubby thorns.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Another view of the thorns and a small tree trunk.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust leaves are compound.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Upper surface of a leaf.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Underside of a leaf.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Sometimes the leaflets are angled, like this.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Mature seed pod in the winter.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust seed pods on the tree in late September.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Locust tree trunk and bark.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Pith of a Black Locust twig.

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Tree profile (this is a younger tree).


Range map for Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)