The Black Locust is a medium-sized and widespread deciduous tree, native to open mountain slopes in the east, but also naturalized across much of the country in many habitats.

Black locusts tolerate poor soil, grow rapidly, and develop an extensive root system. This makes them well-suited for erosion control, particularly on lands strip-mined for coal. This tree harbors nitrogen-fixing bacteria on its roots that benefit the whole natural community.

Black locusts are legumes (like beans), which allows them to utilize atmospheric nitrogen where other plants can only use nitrogen found in the soil. This trait makes them aggressive colonizers in disturbed areas and they are usually one of the first woody species to establish in the early stages of succession.

Their fragrant flowers attract insect pollinators and nectar from the Black locust provides wonderful flavor in honey. Black locusts were also historically used for living fence rows while wood from the tree was used for fence posts and railroad ties.

Images courtesy of:
University of Connecticut
University of Illinois
Ohio State University
Ansel Oommen
USDA