Native Plant Alternatives to Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust)

Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as black locust, is native to the southeastern United States but has become invasive in other parts of the country and around the world.

Black locust is a fast-growing tree species that has been widely planted for its attractive and fragrant flowers, its rapid growth, and its rot-resistant wood. However, it is capable of forming dense stands that outcompete native vegetation, particularly in disturbed areas such as old fields and forests that have been cleared or burned.

The tree reproduces both by seed and by suckering, creating new trees from its roots, which allows it to spread quickly and form dense thickets. It can also fix nitrogen in its roots, allowing it to grow in poor soils where other plants struggle.

Black locust is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. It is considered an invasive species in the prairie and savanna regions of the Midwest, where it can dominate and shade those open habitats.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.