Since it is a black locust variety, you will notice its thorny shoots that are in the shade of deep red. The species of locust trees are divided into two genera: Robinia and Gleditsia. They are also good for medicinal purposes. 5. Black locust is a tough tree that will survive very poor conditions. It has a trunk and branches with stout spines that are usually branched, though not as big as the honey locusts spines. As with all types of locust trees, such as the black locust and honey locust, this is a cold-hardy, drought-resistant type of tree. Robinia 'Purple Robe' will perform best in moist, organically rich loam; however, it will do just fine in both acid and alkaline soils and can handle salt spray. Robinia hispida is a nice dwarf tree with pink flowers and the exact same look as a purple robe locust, but a compact form that only gets 10 feet high. Even in poor, infertile soils the plants seem to do well. Black locust trees, for instance, spread really fast through root suckers and self-seeding. Wait until late spring, when the flowers are done blooming, before making any cuts. The only things it needs are winter pruning and sufficient sunlight. Most types of locust trees grow in the eastern states of North America. Locust trees refer to rapidly growing flowering trees that belong to the pea family and a group of flowering plants known as Fabaceae. Yes, the wood is brittle but as long as the tree gets some cold and Michael Dirr (p. 1014, 2009) calls it an "alley cat" type tree which can survive under the toughest conditions. This tree also shows tiny clusters of beautiful florets in greenish-white that tend to bloom during late spring to early summer. Anyone interested in growing trees can make it part of their plant or tree collection, allowing them to witness a spreading canopy capable of providing a nice spot with shade. Purple-pink pendulous flowers provide plenty of color to a garden in late spring and early summer. In Illinois, it is native only to the far southern edge of the state. Loam, wet . Don't wait for your chance to own this gorgeous tree, order now! Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. You can cultivate it to craft furniture in carpentry, which makes it different from the black locust. Deeply furrowed brown bark. They are also susceptible to locust borers. His raiment was a scarlet purple robe. The purple robe locust grows to a height of 20-30 feet and has dark green, pinnate leaves with 9-19 leaflets. The New Mexico locust tree grows to between 16 and 32 ft. (5 10 m). These showy flowers have an intense fragrance meaning the bristly locust tree attracts honey bees and other pollinators. An effective way to control it is to identify the root suckers immediately and then get rid of them equally. Be extra careful, as skyline honey locust also has a thorny trunk. The main reason is its effectiveness in providing shade while controlling erosion. Looking at pictures of locust tree leaves, you will notice they are similar to fern leaves. This species grows in a wide range of conditions, but avoid growing it in wet sites. The. Generally, you can find two major locust trees: the black locust tree with the scientific name Robinia pseudoacacia and the honey locust tree with the scientific name Gleditsia triacanthos. I fell in love last Thursday. It thrives in many difficult growing conditions. The leaves are odd pinately compound with up to 23 lance . Wait until late spring, when the flowers are done blooming, before making any cuts. Dark purple fragrant flowers in May to June. It has with deeply furrowed bark with flat-topped ridges. However, all of them are aesthetically pleasing and boast of their nice scents. Black Locust Tree leaves are compound alternate leaves in an overall . This variety is relatively thornless, although the occasional thorn may be found. Your Cart. Yes. As for its spread, it could be anywhere from 9 to 23 meters. To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the Find Your Growing Zone box to the right. The leaves were divided into delicate leaflets. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers. Super hardy and drought tough with a brisk growth rate of 2 feet in one year. It can go at around 30 to 50 tall and 30 to 40 spread. Young branches have purple-brown colored fine hairs, giving the stalks a bristly appearance. One reason is its rapid growth. Variations in size may occur. The purple robe is a variety of black locust tree that develops showy, fragrant, purple flowers each spring. A fast-growing, hard-wooded, easy-care, extremely ornamental native tree? Different to honey locust trees, the sharp spikes are short and dont grow in long branches around the tree. Order today! Another impressive fact about the honey locust tree is that it has a thick canopy that aids in blocking sunlight. Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound. It showcases green foliage during the spring season that you can expect to turn yellow once the fall comes. 'Purple Robe' Black Locust1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2 INTRODUCTION This cultivar of Black Locust probably grows to about 40 feet tall with a spread of 20 to 35 feet (Fig. Growing from its 40 foot branches are small purple leaves that remind us of a Hawaiian Lei. The all-encompassing fragrance of its flowers is the reason behind its popularity in various gardens and parks worldwide. It is susceptible to locust borer (often fatal) and locust leaf miner (browns foliage). Incredible, long clusters of purple flowers in May that look just like Wisteria flowers hanging from this local bloomer. Its stems are prickly and are full of thorns. An impressive show and worthy of cutting a few flowers and bringing them indoors for enjoyment. The purple robe locust is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 8. Common names: One of the reasons this locust tree variety is popular is that it grows in several unfavorable conditions. Its fast-growing nature and intricate root system mean that the bristly locust shrubby tree is considered invasive in many states. Other insect problems include caterpillars, weevils, scales, and whiteflies. The wood of black locusts is also very sturdy. This fast-growing native tree can form colonies and has brittle wood. Soil: All types of soil, sand, chalk, loam, and clay The pH level should be a bit acidic or alkaline. One thing to note about the rose acacia or bristly locust tree is that it is an aggressive grower, which is why it is classified as an invasive locust shrub in some places, like Michigan, Ohio, and Washington. It has no thorns and features a large canopy. It grows quickly and produces fragrant flowers in the springtime. Frisia Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia). They will grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent small yard tree, needing little fertilizer or much of anything else. Purple Robe Locust trees are very hard wooded and will tolerate storms well. 'Purple Robe' Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purple Robe') This fast-growing, mid-sized ornamental flowering tree can survive the most difficult situations in different areas. You won't want to miss any of the show. With its scientific name Robinia neomexicana, the New Mexico locust tree is also famous as a native plant in Southwest US. The thorns of a Black Locust Tree are a product of evolution, and act as a deterrent to mammals browsing the foliage. Ecological threat: Invades forests, upland prairies and savannas, pastures, old fields and roadsides. Fall clean up is easy with the small leaves. The bark is deeply furrowed and is brown and gray. Similar to other types of locust trees, the imperial honey locust has beautiful fern-like foliage that turns to sunny yellow in the fall. Purple-robe locust trees grow at a fast rate of 2 to 3 feet per year, reaching a mature height of 40 to 50 feet, with a spread of up to 30 feet. Also called Robinia Pseudoacacia, the black locust tree (false acacia) is also another of the most common variety or type of locust tree. While this tree can provide excellent shade, its branches have sharp thorns, so be careful when handling them. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases. Contact Us Its leaves are typically bronze-green, turning bronze-red in the spring . If you are looking for trees with purple flowers, some good choices are Texas Mountain Laurel, Purple Robe Locust, Chaste Tree, Crepe Myrtles, Royal Empress Tree, or the Eastern Redbud. These beautifully fragrant clusters cover the tree profusely that grows up to eight inches long each! Verses 17, 18. When you sign up for our FREE newsletter! The large compound leaves have smaller blue-green leaflets, and you'll love the fine-textured look of the tree in summer. Locust tree identification during the spring is possible by checking out the presence of pendant clusters of sweet and fragrant pea-shaped flowers often in the shades of pink and white. . Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Flowers white, 2.5 cm pea-type, in 10-20 cm long racemes, fragrant. Fragrant, Wisteria-like Purple Flower Clusters. Extremely fragrant and only found locally at Watters. How to Plant a Texas Ash Tree in and How Much Soil? Cut new growths and stems and be patient as you may have to do them several times throughout the year. Just like the black locust, the species of honey locust grows in many different environments and thrives in full sun. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I spotted the object of my desire over the fence in a yard of one of the houses near the creekside walkway. If you are not careful, it may lead to serious injuries. The flowers turn into brown pods with bristles. Although native to North America, locust trees grow in many countries throughout the world. The variety Purple Robe features beautiful, fragrant purple flowers. The upright, rounded growth and short, irregular taller than the height minimums. It can grow in just about any condition as long as the soil drains quickly after a rain. This can give the tree an oriental or Japanese appeal despite being a native plant in the US. This variety has the term inermis which means that the Sunburst honey locust is a thornless tree. Your support is vital to the Arboretum, where the power of trees makes a positive impact on peoples lives. The Imperial honey locust tree is a good choice for those looking for aesthetic shade trees perfect for streets and gardens. Other names for the New Mexico Locust tree include Desert Locust, Pink Locust, or Rose Locust tree. The leaves on black locust trees are pinnately compound and grow to about 10 (25 cm) long. Choose fragrant reds, radiant pinks, corals, vivacious yellows, and stately whites. The sweet-smelling, fragrant flowers are light purple and shades of pink. The fragrant, creamy white flowers appear in hanging clusters in late May. It is considered to be a good selection for difficult areas in the landscape where other trees will not grow well. One of the fastest-growing evergreen vines for mountain gardens. The damage can be so extensive that the tree dies. Spreads by root suckers. The leaves are also toxic, but in addition to thorn toxicity is the problem of extreme pain when swallowing thorns that grow up to 2 inches long. The blooms of the locusts that refer to their flowers are edible. Scientific names: Robinia pseudo-acacia. Next Post: . Purple Robe Locust Starting at $29.95 Ruby Lace Locust Locust Trees Locust trees are highly versatile and thrive throughout the entire United States. Similar to the black locust tree, this genus is native to states such as Pennsylvania, Iowa, Texas, and Georgia. Leaflets are oval or elliptic in shape with a smooth leaf edge. However, the dappled sunlight means that plants that need partial shade grow well in its shadow. Black locust is a fast growing tree that can reach up to 75 feet in height. We are a team of writers that love all things plants. It is crucial to prune this tree during the summer and fall to ensure that it retains its pyramid-like shape. She proliferates up arbors, pergolas, fences, and stunning as a ground cover to retain hills. 3. The Arboretum has the expertise and advice to help you beautify your home landscape, improve your community, and advocate for trees. Every backyard should have at least one. It grows in an upright, irregular oval shape. Good drought tolerance. Fixes nitrogen. It also has bright green and feather-like leaves. Purple Robe Locust trees are very hard wooded and will tolerate storms well. Just plant in a sunny spot and enjoy! This tree is capable of blooming dense groups or clusters of flowers capable of attracting bees. Among these locust varieties are the following: If you are in search of a thornless locust tree, the Imperial honey locust is ideal for you. Full Sun or Shade for a Crimson Queen Maple, Missouri Botanical Garden: Robinia "Purple Robe", The University of Utah: Facilities - Purple Robe Locust, Utah State University Extension: Integrated Pest Management - Locust Borer, How to grow your own herb garden in any indoor or outdoor space. An excellent barrier plant to protect your property beautifully. It can tolerate various soil pH levels and features yellow-green flowers and chewy and sweet seeds. This deciduous tree is native to North America and can be found in parts of Canada and the United States. The leaves are bluish-green with very little color change in the fall. This thornless honey locust tree is also famous for being really adaptive and durable. Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc. 'Purple Robe' is a medium sized, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-40' tall with an oval-upright habit. Leaves. It can also spread to around 20 to 35 feet. This variety grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-9, and in colder climates. Locust may not be everyone's favorite choice of tree, but it does have value to foraging bees. They bear attractive flowers but many have spines, bristles or thorns.Genus name honors Jean Robin (1550-1629), of Paris, gardener to Henri IV and Louis XIII of France, who received new plants from Canada.Purple Robe is a medium sized, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-40 tall with an oval-upright habit. Suggested Use: Street Tree, Flowering Tree, Naturalize. You are here: Home Locust Trees Purple Robe Locust. Clusters of heavily scented pink-purple flowers dangle from the locust tree, filling your garden with spring colors. While there are several thornless cultivars and varieties of honey locusts, note that the ones that have thorns are also considered the fiercest. Purple Robe Locust is a tremendous shade tree that develops long clusters of purple-colored flowers in May that resemble Wisteria flowers. These trees grow so fast that, in some regions, they are in the class of an invasive plant species. Locust trees are hardy trees that are known for their hard and durable wood, fragrant sweet spring flowers, and colorful fall foliage. The honey locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), sometimes called the black locust or the purple robe locust, features purple-tinted leaves and deep purple flowers. The purple robe tree gets its name from its purplish pink flowers. This variety is also known for its scientific name Gleditsia triacanthos form inermis. Black locust produces hanging clusters of very fragrant white flowers in spring. Thorny Bushes and Shrubs Look to some of these thorny bushes as potential barrier plantings, as well as plantings for their beauty and fragrance. 2021 Plants Spark Joy - Your daily dose of all things plants. The black locusts can also fairly tolerate drought, though, you should still avoid exposing it to excessive flooding and water. Don't wait for your chance to own this gorgeous tree, order now! There are many reasons why the Suncole cultivar is popular in landscape gardens. Note, though, that you have to pick the honey locust tree for this as the pods of black locust are toxic. In commerce, it is synonymous with and frequently sold as R. pseudoacacia Purple Robe. It is noted for its attractive compound leaves and pendant racemes of violet purple pea-like flowers. Pictures, descriptions, and their scientific names will help identify each species of these deciduous trees. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Locust trees have pods with pulp inside. Companion Plants with Purple Robe Locust for a Stunning Backyard. Several of its varieties come with long, fierce, and sharp thorns that tend to grow in pairs. The tree grows to 45 ft. (13 m) and has a canopy spread of 35 ft. (10 m). Additionally, 'Purple Robe' is incredibly tough, super hardy, and drought tolerant. Weve married the beauty of long stem roses with the Easy-care of shrub roses for landscape color like no other plant in the backyard. It is also sometimes considered to be somewhat weedy. Plant Purple Robe Locust in an open, sunny space where it will get plenty of light and air circulation. The amount of light for your tree is really no different than what mine gets in the mountains. Like Frisia, purple robe has red prickles. Overall, the black locust is also a fantastic hardwood tree capable of growing thick and tall. Bare The fruits are flat brown legumes (pods) and are 4 inches long. The pinnately compound leaves are also usually around seven to eight inches long. How long do purple robe locust trees live? Purple Robe Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purple Robe') is an improvement of the native Black Locust tree. Purple Robe Locust is a strikingly beautiful ornamental tree that has a growth of rounded bronze leaves that turn into a lush green, followed by drooping purplish pink flowers. This type of black locust tree thrives in states such as Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The feather fern foliage and branches that are spaced widely apart mean that this locust tree is another excellent tree to provide shade in a backyard or garden landscape. This flower color is unusual for trees in the genus Robinia as the flowers are commonly white. Like many types of honey locust trees, the bark is gray-brown. The black locust tree is also called False Acacia, Fragrant White Locust, and Common Robinia. It is native to states such as Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and southern Ohio. Purple Robe Locust Mirazroa/Shutterstock This purple flowering tree is mainly found in North America, but don't let the pretty flowers fool you. Both are known for being endemic in the entire region of North America. It is endemic to a few small areas of the United States, but it has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia and is considered an invasive . Similar to the black honey locust tree, the bark on the New Mexico cultivar is light gray-brown with shallow furrows. It has to be in a soil that drains well. Diseases to keep an eye out for when caring for purple locust trees are powdery mildew, leaf spot and canker. Very susceptible to locust borer. The most common and popular among the many locust varieties are the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) and black locust or Robinia pseudoacacia. You can also identify the honey locust flowers with their greenish-yellow shade instead of the pink or white one and are fairly insignificant when you compare them to the other locust trees with showy flowers. You can also control black and honey locusts by cutting back these trees each growing season. Call Toll-Free: 1-866-586-6283. May be used as a street tree. The New Mexico locust tree is also called the southwestern locust or hojalito. Beautiful lavender-colored flower clusters adorned a pretty rounded tree with yellow-green leaves. We write how-to guides and tips for houseplants. Sharp spines may be present, especially on sucker growth. The spread of up to 15 ft. means that the locust shrub is suitable for groundcover in sunny gardens. The Utah State University Extension recommends applying an insecticide like carbamate or pyrethroid to the trunks of the trees in late July and early August, just before the locust borers lay their eggs. It has edible seed pods known for their chewy and sweet pulps. Chokecherry Tree: Leaves, Chokecherries, Flowers (With Pictures) Identification, Weeping Cherry Trees: Types and Care (Including Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees), Flowering Dogwood Trees and Shrubs: Types, Leaves, Bark - Identification (With Pictures), The Best Desert Trees with Pictures and Names, Types of Locust Trees with Identification Guide and Pictures, Small or Dwarf Weeping Trees for Landscaping, Dwarf Fruit Trees to Grow Indoors or Outdoors. One more thing that honey locusts can do for you is supplying you with highly durable wood and timber. Robinia pseudoacacia'Purple Robe' Figure 1. It is famous for its ability to grow large clusters or groups of pea-like flowers that tend to bloom during the spring. Be sure to place your order as soon as you see this gorgeous tree in stock. Honey Locust Tree (Gleditsia Triacanthos). 5. This is also the reason why the Shademaster honey locust tree is classified as an easy-to-maintain locust. In its blooming stage, bright green with purple tinge foliage will emerge. You can differentiate between these two major types of locust trees by checking out the thorns at the branches and barks. One more distinctive feature of the black locusts is their oblong crown, which you can see atop its straight trunk. Each leaf is divided into anywhere from nine to 17 leaflets that are 1 or 2 inches long and arranged in pairs. Many varieties of locust trees have long sharp thorns and there are a few thornless species. Many also harvest entire seed pods to create livestock feed. In general, honey locust trees are non-messy. Purple-robe locust trees need full sun, although they will tolerate light shade. This tree can sucker to the point of forming colonies. This thorny tree also works well to control erosion. It does not bear fruits, which is why it does not come with seed pods. Best performance is in moist, organically rich loams. Bees and beneficial insects love the flowers. Combine that with the decorative shape of its branches, trunk, and foliage, and this tree will surely add a more aesthetic appeal to your garden. Also, honey locust tree leaves tend to be a lighter shade of green than the black variety. The Purple Robes will adapt to our hot, dry New Mexican areas and will tolerate our alkaline soils. Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. The sharp barbs usually grow to 4 (10 cm) long, but they can be up to 8 (20 cm). Purple locust trees are not picky when it comes to soil, which makes them appealing for sites where other trees cannot grow. Just like the honey locust, it also looks elegant and can stand alone. The pinnate compound leaves of the purple robe tree can be a foot long, give or take a few inches. The black locust is kind of invasive and features twenty-one leaflets less than two inches long. The honey locust has clusters of small, creamy-green flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. It has leaves that begin to look light green once the spring season comes then slowly become darker. As for its foliage, you can expect to see it in rich green during the spring and turning into yellow green then golden yellow in the summer and fall, respectively. A super vigorous vine with dangling stalks of fragrant flowers appears in early spring. Growth Requirements. There are also 1-inch individual leaflets that you can find in their leaves. I've grown 'Purple Robe' both on the Valley floor and in the mountains near Yosemite. Follow the Watters planting guidelines for the best results.