General Description | A unique looking tree with distinctive branching. With elliptical shaped pinnately compound leaves, usually deep green with a bluish tinge. |
ID Characteristic | A tree with twisted branches and ridged bark, and curled leaves. With clusters of white fragrant flowers and pods that persist. |
Landscape | It is great in gardens as a focal point, with it's white fragrant flowers, and great branching with a year round interest because of the twisted branches. |
Propagation | Propagated through grafting onto R. pseudoacacia rootstock. |
Cultivation | Likes full sun, easily transplanted. Grows well is moist well-drained soils, but is also very adaptable to many soil types. Salt and drought tolerant. |
Pests | Borers may cause some problems, as well as scale insects. Strong winter winds and heavy snow may also cause injury. |
Notable Specimens | Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
Bark/Stem Description | Reddish brown almost black. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Throughout the summer it produces new terminal growth, until autumn. The apical buds are a brighter green in colour, having a greyish underside on the leaflets as they curl upwards. |
Leaf Description | A unique characteristic of the Black Locust is it’s curled leaves, which happens as it matures. Pinnately compound, elliptical, producing 7-9 leaflets on each branch, each 15-35 cm long. |
Flower Description | Hang in white fragrant clusters from branches. |
Fruit Description | Long sweet pea-like pods, usually black to brown, 5-10 cm long and persistent. |
Colour Description | Foliage is a dark bluish-green throughout summer, and turns yellow in autumn. |
Texture Description | Ridged and deeply furrowed. |