Virginia Tech Dendrology

New Mexican locust Fabaceae Robinia neomexicana A. Gray symbol: RONE
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 11 to 19 elliptical leaflets each 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, entire margins, green above.
Flower: Perfect, attractive, purple-pink, pea-like in hanging clusters, gland-tipped hairs present, appearing in late spring.
Fruit: Flat pod, brown, 2 to 4 inches long, covered in gland tipped hairs.
Twig: Moderate, zigzag, somewhat angled or ridged, reddish hairs, a pair of spines at each leaf scar; buds sunken.
Bark: Light gray-brown, shallowly furrowed, scaly flat ridges.
Form: Small tree that reaches 25 feet. It root suckers profusely and forms dense thickets.
Looks like: black locust - bristly locust

Additional Range Information: Robinia neomexicana is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information