Locust, black   /   Robinia pseudoacacia

Areas of origin: East of United States. Introduced in 1601.
Full grown dimensions: Height up to 25 metres(82'), width up to 15 metres (49,2').
Foliage: Deciduous.
Soil type: All, except extremely wet. Dislikes excess of lime.
Hardiness: Hardy tolerant to -34°C.
Exposure: Full sun.
Growth rate: Up to 1 metre in the first year.


Properties and uses:
Fast growing spreading tree producing beautiful fragrant white flowers in clusters during the months of May and June. The honey produced is of very good quality. It is a wood that is very hard and strong and is sought after for making fence posts and poles. For the best production of wood it should preferably be planted in acid soils, light and deep.

• Forest Tree Seedlings for your plantations
• See the Free-range poultries trees and shrubs catalogue
• List of honey producing plants

1) The False Acacia, Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) is it suitable for my land?

The False Acacia, (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a variety (heliophile) which requires a lot of light in order to develop. The False Acacia is well suited to different conditions in low altitude. It thrives in light soils with good water supply but is a frugal variety where soil is concerned: it can be found in poor or rich soils, deep or superficial with variable Ph.

2) Which planting density for my False Acacia, Black Locust plot? (Robinia pseudoacacia)

The planting density is the number of plants planted in one hectare (acre). Here it means determining the initial number of young plants and to choosing their repartition in the available space.
The planting density is defined by the gaps in between the lines as well as the spacing in between each plant on a same line.
It is the basics of the silvicultural path which must lead to a final trees’ population of quality and to the fulfilment of the land’s owner set goals.

Advice: When choosing the density, think about the width of the tool which will allow the maintenance of the gaps in between the lines. The space in between the lines must allow clear passage for a tractor-drawn, maintenance tool.

For the False Acacia, (Robinia pseudoacacia), a few recommended densities:

• 1 200 plants/hectare for a classic path for the production of woodwork.
• 2 500 plants/hectare for the production of Biomass.

3) How to prepare the soil to plant False Acacia, Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)?

In Silviculture, working the soil is a key element in the success of planting. The root system of the tree must take rapidly where planted. Whether the work is done mechanically or manually, we recommend working the soil in its depth for optimum planting.

4) How to plant the False Acacia, Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)?

a- Receipt, storage and preparation of the plants before planting

• Upon receipt, place the crates side by side, on a flat surface so as there is no air circulation underneath. Choose a shady spot protected from wind;
• Maintain a good humidity level of the plants on the crates placed on the edges,
• Plan for the possibility of watering if planting is delayed or if the plants require water,
• In case of frost, do not handle the plants and if frost is forecasted for several days, place mulch on the edges.

Our team of professional planters use a planting cane to place the earth-balled plants in situ. This ergonomic, light tool allows quality, quicker planting work. It is also possible to carry out a traditional planting work using a pickaxe or a spade

In all case, you must:
• Dig a hole a little bit larger than the earth-ball ;
• Position it well in the hole;
• Cover it entirely;

Finally, the worker will tamp down the soil carefully with its foot. It is forbidden to press strongly or again to heel-butt the plant to avoid crushing the earth-ball and damage the root system of the plant.

Video on planting using a planting cane
Buy Planting cane

5) How to limit weeds on my False Acacia, Black Locust plot (Robinia pseudoacacia) ?

During the first years, it is essential to eliminate all self-propagating plants. Not controlled they are going to be in competition with your plants and are going to deprive the young trees of the vital elements they require to grow (water, light and nutritional elements). You must therefore eliminate mechanically this unwanted competition until the trees are big enough to be able to dominate it.

Two types of operations are possible after planting:

Manual clearing around the plants
It is in fact acts often carried out using portable thermic Strimmers or billhooks to clear plants on a line or around the plants themselves.

Mechanical clearing of the space in between the lines
These actions are done using cutters and flail mowers, horizontal or vertical cutters, mounted on mini excavators or tractors. As a result, they cannot be undertaken outside the spaces available between the tree lines (seedlings or plants).

6) How to protect my young False Acacia plants from wildlife (Robinia pseudoacacia) ?

There is a necessity to protect the plot as soon as the population’s density of Cervidae (deer and roe deer in particular) risk leading to significant damage such as undergrowth of the plants or friction of the stems. Sometimes, the setting up of plants’ protection is also necessary as soon as the rodents’ population (rabbits, hares, coypu, voles...) are locally important.

3 types of protections are possible:

• Individual, mechanical Protections ( dissuasive netting, photo-degradable tubes,...)
• Protection by total wire-fencing of the plot,
• Protection by applying a repellent on each plant or on the borders of the plot.