It comes in two main types which might have confused you in one way or another.
You might be interested in the locust tree because of its decorative and shade value.
Other FAQs about the locust trees are also featured here.
First of all, locust trees are not where locus insects swarm.
These two trees have an uncanny resemblance to each other.
Acacia comes from the Greek wordakiswhich translates to thorns.
They aligned the descriptions of John the Baptist of the three where he ate from.
The same immigrants also divided black locusts and honey locust trees.
What are the different types of locust tree?
These two divisions are endemic in the whole North American region.
These two are differentiated by the thorns on the barks and branches.
Black locust trees have thorns while honey locust trees are mostly thornless.
There are other differences between the two in terms of use and benefits as well as other characteristics.
You will find these differences in the succeeding sections.
They are commonly seen in woodlands and in riverbanks.
They are unique for their leaf gaps and make excellent shade as they grow from 40-60ft.
They are also known for their thorny branches and barks.
It grows upright and has leaf gaps casting ample light for other plants in the lawn to grow.
Shoots of this tree are thorny with deep red color.
It is drought tolerant and will produce fragrant white flowers from late spring to summer.
It is considered as one of the most beautiful locust trees because its leaves change in every growth stage.
In its blooming stage, bright green with purple tinge foliage will emerge.
At its mature stage, bronze-colored leaves form.
It also blooms in dense clusters of bright pink and purplish flowers from spring to summer.
It is a popular lawn and landscape choice for homeowners.
Source
It can be cultivated either as a shrub or tree.
It has a compact shape and grows at 20ft.
When grown in pots, it grows at a height of 5ft.
It gets its name from its twisted/contorting limbs giving it a distinguishable appearance.
Winter pruning makes it more twisty.
It has dark green foliage which contrasts well with its dense, fragrant white flowers blooming during summer.
They are also very hardy to inferior quality soils and poor environmental conditions.
Their spread is also wide making them a common sight in parks.
Here are the main uses of honey locust trees.
Types of honey locust trees
It is also known as the Rose Acacia or the Moss Locust.
They are deciduous shrubs growing to an average of 8ft only.
It gets its name from its bristly stems.
It blooms very fragrant white flowers that are attractive to bees and other insects.
It thrives in loamy, moist soils with a high salt level.
They are good at erosion control though.
It is considered as one of the most popular variants of shade trees good for lawns and streets.
It also has a ferny structure in an overall yellow-green tinge.
It grows at 30-40ft and spreads to up to 35ft.
It can withstand a wide range of environment types and soil conditions.
It specifically loves full sun and moist, well-draining soils.
Its wood is good in woodwork and crafting furniture.
It is native to the southwest region of the US.
It grows at an average of 10ft and 7ft of shade.
It is distinguishable for its large, thick branches and masses of flowers blooming from spring to summer.
It is a known shade tree that can tolerate inferior growing conditions.
Summer or fall pruning is recommended for this tree for it to maintain its pyramid-shape.
It could grow to up to 20ft and could tolerate drought and high salt soil content.
It is very attractive with its ferny leaves and overall weeping foliage.
It thrives in dry and warm seasons only and does not bloom flowers.
It is a decorative lawn tree growing at 25ft.
It has a unique ferny structure growing to up to 45ft with a spread of up to 25ft.
It has an upright growing habit, making it a loved tree for parks and streets.
Aside from this, it is low-maintenance.
It only needs ample sunlight and winter pruning.
It is tolerant of all kinds of soil pH levels.
Its seeds are sweet and chewy and it will bloom yellow-green flowers.
Its trunk is thorny, however.
It is native to the midwest US growing in moist and cold locations.
It is a fast-growing shade tree following an arching habit.
It reaches a height of 30-50ft and a shade of 30-35ft.
It has leaf gaps providing dappled light to lawn plants.
Bright yellow leaves will appear in the spring fading into pale green over fall.
It needs winter pruning and deep watering.
It boasts a good shade and accent plant that is generally disease and deer resistant.
It is distinguishable for not having thorns and boasts its fast-growing habit.
They grow at an average of 50ft.
They do not bear fruits, hence, no seed pods.
They are considered as one of the easy-maintenance locusts.
They sport green foliage in spring that will turn yellow in the fall.
They also feature yellow flowers with mild fragrance blooming from spring to summer.
It is durable and adaptive, tolerant to drought and salt.
It has ferny leaves that are deep green in spring and turns golden yellow during fall.
It is a common sight in cities and suburban landscapes.
Locust tree pods
Locust tree pods contain seeds that can be harvested to plant new locust trees.
They are usually seen hanging on the thick branches of the tree in between spring to early fall.
Inside the tree, pods are seeds that differentiate black and honey locust trees.
Black locust seeds are considered inedible and poisonous to humans and animals.
In contrast, honey locust seeds have sweet, edible pulp.
The pulp is harvested to be ground as flour or to be fermented as beer.
Brown or yellow spotting on the leaves imply bug infestation.
Locusts are also the favorite of tree borers, laying eggs in locust tree barks especially during summer.
Blister beetles also target locust trees and they do so in droves or colonies.
Other insects feasting on locust trees would be mites, pod gall midges, and cottony maple scales.
Diseases
Although hardwoods, locust trees are also susceptible to various kinds of diseases.
It leads to wilting branches and leaf curling on one side of the tree.
The formation of cankers is also a serious problem for these trees.
Dead spots in the bark are evidence of canker disease and this leads to wood decay.
Lastly, locust trees are susceptible to wetwood disease triggered by bacteria buildup.
When locust trees contract this disease, the bark becomes consistently wet or oozing with slime.
The tree color also turns yellow or brown.
It means that the soil where it is planted no longer supports its needed moisture.
Dropping leaves are usually yellow with no evident spots.
Even with good irrigation, highly humid air leads to leaf dropping too.
To prevent this from happening or to adapt locust trees in hotter climates, annual pruning must be done.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lifespan of a locust tree?
There is a significant difference in the lifespan of black locusts and honey locust trees.
Black locust trees are fast-growing but are considered as having a medium lifespan of 80 years.
In contrast, honey locust trees have longer lifespans stretching from 100-120years.
How do you know when a locust tree is dying?
How do you stop a locust tree from spreading?
Locust trees can be a growing problem, especially when grown as shrubs.
They have sturdy, rhizomatic roots that easily follow a long stretch.
With these, it is not a wonder why some would want to stop the spreading of locust trees.
There are two ways to stop a locust tree from spreading.
One, their aggressive growth can be stopped through repeated cutting specifically during the growing season.
New stems should also be cut during this time.
This process should be repeated for many years to finally stop them from spreading.
Two, you’re able to use potent herbicides.
This is not a one-time big-time thing, however.
Like the first step, applying herbicides must be done twice a year for at least three consecutive years.
Are locust trees poisonous to humans?
Not all locust trees are poisonous to humans.
Only the black locust trees contain a toxic substance called toxalbumin.
The toxic component of black locust trees is concentrated in the bark, branches, and even leaves of.
Conclusion
We have pretty much-covered everything that you should know about locust trees.
The two main types are black locust trees and honey locust trees.
Both are good shade trees but have stark differences.
For one, black locusts can be toxic to animals and humans.
Overall, locust trees are dependable trees and come with many uses beyond being decorative.
