Virginia Tech Dendrology

bristly locust Fabaceae Robinia hispida L. symbol: ROHI
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 9 to 13 entire, elliptical leaflets, 7 to 9 inches long, green above and paler below.
Flower: Perfect, attractive, rose colored pea-like in hanging clusters, appearing in late spring.
Fruit: Flat pod, 2 to 2 1/2 inches long and very bristly.
Twig: Slender, zigzag and covered in bristly red hairs, the twig and hairs later turn gray-brown; buds sunken, no spines.
Bark: Gray-brown with numerous raised lenticels.
Form: Small tree or suckering shrub to 8 feet with a spreading fan shaped crown. Often in thickets since it spreads rapidly from root suckers.
Looks like: New Mexican locust - black locust

Additional Range Information: Robinia hispida is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database
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