Plant Details

Robinia pseudoacacia

Black locust, false acacia

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Common names

72 names · 40 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Black locust[1]
  • false acacia[1]
  • green locust[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • locust[1]
  • purple robe locust[1]
  • white locust[1]
  • Yellow Locust[1]
Other languages (39)
Dutch
  • Gewone robina
  • Robinia[1]
  • Schijnacacia
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Valse acacia[1]
  • witte acacia[1]
French
  • Robinier faux-acacia[1]
Afrikaans
Arabic
  • سنط كاذب[1]
  • شجرة الجراد[1]
Basque
  • Sasiakazia[1]
Belarusian
  • Рабінія псеўдаакацыя, ці Белая акацыя[1]
Bulgarian
  • Бял салкъм[1]
  • Бяла акация[1]
Catalan
  • Acàcia borda[1]
Cherokee
  • ᎧᎶᏇᏗ[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • trnovník akát[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik robiinia[1]
Finnish
  • valkovaleakaasia[1]
Galician
  • Falsa acacia[1]
German
  • Falsche Akazie[1]
  • Gewöhnliche Robinie[1]
  • Scheinakazie[1]
Hebrew
  • רוביניה בת השיטה[1]
Hungarian
  • Fehér akác[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • トゲナシニセアカシア[1]
  • ニセアカシア[1]
  • ハリエンジュ[1]
Korean
  • 아까시나무[1]
Latvian
  • Baltā robīnija[1]
Lithuanian
  • Baltažiedė robinija[1]
Mono
  • tüttona'abü[1]
Mvskoke
Norwegian
Polish
  • grochodrzew akacjowy[1]
  • robinia akacjowa[1]
  • robinia biała[1]
Portuguese
  • Acácia-bastarda[1]
  • Falsa acácia[1]
  • Robínia[1]
Romanian
Russian
  • Белая акация[1]
  • Робиния лжеакация[1]
  • Робиния ложноакациевая[1]
Serbian
Slovak
  • agát biely[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna robinija[1]
  • Robinija[1]
Spanish
  • Acacia blanca[1]
  • Acacia falsa[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Beyaz Salkımlı Sanki Akasya[1]
  • Beyaz çiçekli yalancı akasya[1]
Ukrainian
  • Біла Акація[1]
  • Робінія звичайна[1]
  • Робінія псевдоакація[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Robinia pseudoacacia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Acacia falsa — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Robinia — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Robínia — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Falsa acácia — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Acácia-bastarda — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • valkovaleakaasia — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Acàcia borda — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • ニセアカシア — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Robinier faux-acacia — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Gewöhnliche Robinie — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • 아까시나무 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • ハリエンジュ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • black locust — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Robinija — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • False Acacia — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • robinia akacjowa — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • grochodrzew akacjowy — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • robinia biała — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • trnovník akát — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • robinia — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • witte acacia — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • valse acacia — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Robinie — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • 刺槐 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Робиния лжеакация — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Робиния ложноакациевая — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Acacia blanca — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • robinia — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Бял салкъм — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Бяла акация — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Baltažiedė robinija — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Белая акация — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • سنط كاذب — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • شجرة الجراد — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • agát biely — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Bagrem — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • トゲナシニセアカシア — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • robinia — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • falsk akacia — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • harilik robiinia — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Scheinakazie — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • 刺槐 — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Sasiakazia — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Salcâm — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Робінія звичайна — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Рабінія псеўдаакацыя, ці Белая акацыя — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Falsche Akazie — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Witakasia — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Falsa acacia — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • vals-akasia — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Yellow Locust — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • רוביניה בת השיטה — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • locust — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • navadna robinija — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Fehér akác — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Beyaz çiçekli yalancı akasya — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Baltā robīnija — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • 洋槐 — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Біла Акація — results[0].names[60]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Робінія псевдоакація — results[0].names[61]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • purple robe locust — results[0].names[62]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • white locust — results[0].names[63]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • green locust — results[0].names[64]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • ᎧᎶᏇᏗ — results[0].names[65]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Beyaz Salkımlı Sanki Akasya — results[0].names[66]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • cvhahtv — results[0].names[67]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • eccvhahtv — results[0].names[68]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Багрем — results[0].names[69]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • Bagrem — results[0].names[70]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.
  • tüttona'abü — results[0].names[71]; taxon id 56088; Robinia pseudoacacia.

General information

Scientific name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Accepted name (Kew): Robinia pseudoacacia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3] [4]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Robinia (WCVP v16).

Sources [3]
Also known as: Black locust, false acacia
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 15.24–15.24 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 6.1–10.67 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Erect, Oval, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Fibre, Oil, Wood, Bee forage, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

Robinia pseudoacacia is a deciduous tree with white flowers in hanging clusters and flattened seed pods. Its bark, leaves and seeds contain toxic compounds and can cause poisoning. It must not be confused with Gleditsia triacanthos when evaluating pod or seed use.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust, Common Locust, False Acacia, Green Locust, Pea Flower Locust, White Locust, Yellow Locust) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. National Capital Poison Center Are black locust trees toxic?
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Black locust identification and toxic plant parts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 157401; name ID 2428543; Robinia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 158076; name ID 2428246; Robinia pseudoacacia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  4. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Robinia pseudoacacia

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1152292, ID 4T7YV: Robinia pseudoacacia L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .