Locust, Black, Bare Root

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black locust combines fragrant white flowers with nitrogen fixation and durable wood. It suits a managed woodlot or spacious working landscape better than a small garden bed.

Key Characteristics

A flowering tree for bees

Hanging white flower clusters provide a seasonal nectar resource. Its leaves also host silver-spotted skipper caterpillars.

Posts and managed regrowth

Dense, decay-resistant wood is useful for posts and fuel. Root nodules house nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but the tree is not a substitute for soil testing or a complete fertility plan.

Plan for roots and thorns

Root suckers can spread well beyond the trunk, and branches can break in wind. Site away from paths and livestock access; bark, leaves, and seeds are toxic, especially to horses.

Product Details

• Native range / origin: Appalachian and Ozark regions of eastern North America
• Plant type: Deciduous perennial tree
• Sun: Full Sun; Part Sun/Shade
• Soil moisture: Medium; Medium-Dry; see site guidance above.
• Mature height: 30–50 feet, occasionally taller
• Bloom: April–May–June; White
• Fruit / seed: Flat seed pods; not an edible nut or fruit crop.
• Pollination: A second tree is unnecessary for the flowering and woodlot uses described here.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 3–8
• Stock: 6-18" Seedling.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Keep bare roots moist until planting, spread roots naturally, and water thoroughly. Maintain a mulched area clear of grass, with mulch pulled away from stems. Base feeding on a soil test; our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend is optional and should be used according to its label, away from direct contact with bare roots.

Monitor stems for locust borer damage. Control unwanted root sprouts and consider its spread outside its original native range before planting.