Is Black Locust deer resistant?
Robinia pseudoacacia
Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Black Locust
Fragrant white flower chains and rot-resistant timber, but it suckers aggressively, has vicious thorns, and is invasive well outside its native range including much of the west and Europe. The bark and seeds are toxic to livestock and horses. Rarely the right choice for a garden.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Average garden soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 236 to 354 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- High
Similar to Black Locust
Other trees with the same deer rating.
- Alternate-Leaved DogwoodCornus alternifoliaZones 3–7Occasionally damaged
- American PersimmonDiospyros virginianaZones 4–9Occasionally damaged
- AppleMalus sp.Zones 4–9, genus rangeOccasionally damaged
- Atlantic White CedarChamaecyparis thyoidesZones 3–9Occasionally damaged
- Atlas CedarCedrus atlanticaZones 6–9Occasionally damaged
- Bald CypressTaxodium distichumZones 4–9Occasionally damaged
Protecting Black Locust
Whether this survives comes down to local pressure, so it is worth knowing the options before it gets browsed rather than after.
- Protecting a young treeBrowsing costs a season. A buck rubbing a two-inch stem in October girdles it and kills it outright.
- How tall a deer fence needs to beEight feet, and six is the most common expensive mistake in deer fencing.
- Repellent that actually worksThe egg-based recipe that reproduces the active ingredient in the commercial sprays that win university trials.
- Check it is actually deerDeer tear and leave a ragged stub. A clean 45-degree cut is rabbits, and slug holes get blamed on deer constantly.
Where Black Locust grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- Californianative
- Oregonnative
- Washingtonnative
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montananative
- Wyomingnative
- Idahonative
- Utahnative
- Nevadanative
- Arizonanative
- New Mexiconative
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 49 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Black Locust belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Black Locust
- Is Black Locust deer resistant?
- Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is rated Occasionally Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
- What hardiness zones does Black Locust grow in?
- Black Locust is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Black Locust grow in shade?
- No. Black Locust wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Black Locust get?
- Mature height is roughly 600–600 in. Growth rate is fast.
- Is Black Locust toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Black Locust as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.
- Is Black Locust invasive?
- Black Locust is listed as invasive or restricted in MA, CT, NY, MI, WI, MN, OR, WA, CA, PA, NJ. Deer leaving it alone is not a reason to plant it. Check your own state before buying.