Genus Robinia (Locust)

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' Photo/Illustration: Steve Silk

roe-BIN-ee-ah Common Name: Locust

The genus Robinia is made up of anywhere from a handful to 20 species of deciduous trees and shrubs from woodland and thickets of North America. Their garden value comes from their pinnate leaves and their dangling pendents of often fragrant, pea-like flowers, mostly in pinks and white. They make good specimen trees or additions to a shrub border. All parts of Robinia can cause severe discomfort if eaten.
Noteworthy characteristics: Alternate, pinnate leaves and pendent inflorescences of pea-like flowers in spring or summer that are sometimes fragrant.
Care: Prefer full sun in moist but well-drained soil of moderate fertility, but can take poor, dry soils. Shelter the brittle branches from strong winds. Prune in late summer or early autumn to prevent bleeding.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in fall and place in a cold frame. Insert root cuttings or graft in winter. Remove suckers in fall.
Problems: Borers, caterpillars, weevils, scale insects, whiteflies, leaf miners, leaf spots, wood rot, canker, powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt, and heart rot can all be problems.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Robinia

Robinia hispida
(Rose acacia, Bristly locust) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

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This showy flowering shrub grows to 8 feet tall and wide and features dark green, compound pinnate leaves on bristly stems and pendant clusters of fragrant, pea-like, rose-pink flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies in late spring and early summer. The flowers are occasionally followed by bristly, reddish-brown seed pods. Native to the southeastern United States, this aggressive shrub spreads by suckers and is considered invasive in Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All parts of this plant are at least mildly poisonous.

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia'
(Golden locust) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

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This large, fast-growing tree has droopy leaves that stay sunny yellow from spring until frost, spiny shoots, and fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer on pendent racemes. The flowers are followed by smooth brown seed pods that are also interesting. 'Frisia' is one of the cultivars that is grown more for foliage than for its flowers and it does not flower as freely as the species.

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