Wildlife
- Pollinators
The fragrant white flowers are a strong nectar source for bees and other insect pollinators.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–8
- Grows 30–50 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
Black locust is a fast-growing native tree for USDA zones 4-8 that reaches 30-50 ft tall and 20-35 ft wide in full sun to part shade. Buy it for poor, dry ground, erosion control and rot-resistant post wood; it fixes nitrogen and its fragrant late-spring flowers feed bees. It suckers and spreads aggressively.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Black Locust plant profile
Mature size30–50 ft tall · 20–35 ft wide
Typical (30 ft)Up to 50 ft
Upright with an open, irregular crown; spreads by root suckers and young stems carry sharp spines.
USDA hardiness zones4–8
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
SoilpH 5.0–8.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Tolerates poor, dry, sandy or rocky soils and fixes its own nitrogen; does not like heavy, wet soil.
Native to the USLittle change; leaves stay bluish-green or turn pale yellow fall colorWindbreakHedge & screen
Flowers & fruit
Fragrant white flowers hang in clusters in late May, followed by flat brown seed pods; the seeds are toxic.
Leaves & fall color
Little change; leaves stay bluish-green or turn pale yellow in fall. Compound leaves with small oval leaflets; fall color is minimal, staying bluish-green or turning pale yellow.
Pests & disease
Locust borer is the most serious pest and can kill trees; locust leaf miner browns leaves in late summer.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or broken limbs, and cut suckers at ground level as they appear.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Black Locust
SPRINGLeafs out late; fragrant white flower clusters hang in late May
SUMMEROpen, airy canopy of compound leaves; flat seed pods form
LATE SUMMERWatch for locust leaf miner browning the leaves
FALLLittle color change; brown pods hang on into winter
Questions people ask about Black Locust
Is black locust invasive?
It spreads by seed and root suckers and has become invasive in parts of the Midwest. Plant it only where suckers can be mowed or controlled.
Is black locust poisonous to people or pets?
Yes. The bark, leaves and seeds are toxic to people, dogs, cats and horses if eaten.
Does black locust have thorns?
Young stems and suckers usually carry paired sharp spines, so site it away from play areas and paths.
How fast does black locust grow?
It is a rapid grower and tolerates poor, dry soil, but its wood and branch structure are prone to ice damage.
Do I need two black locust trees?
No. Each flower has male and female parts, and bees pollinate it.
What does the black locust look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant bare-root tree, 2-3 ft tall, with no leaves. Plant it as soon as possible after it arrives.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
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Just received my 5 bare root Black Locust trees here in southern NM on 12/23/2023. They appear to be in excellent shape and dormant, as expected. If they grow and thrive as expected, I will be a very happy camper as they will not only provide for a great eye appeal to my humble abode, they will also be very good for my apiary.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension.