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Bristly Locust Robinia hispida

Previously known as:

  • Robinia hispida var. nana
  • Robinia pauciflora
  • Robinia pedunculata
Phonetic Spelling
roh-BIN-ee-ah HISS-pih-dah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Bristly Locust is native to SE USA but has spread to other areas of the country. It is in the pea (Fabaceae) family and has pendulous pink pea-like clusters of flowers in the spring that are quite showy. The leaves are compound and attractive with yellow fall color. This plant can spread aggressively by root suckers but can sometimes be found grafted onto the rootstalk of black locust which doesn't spread as aggressively. It will grow 2-10 feet tall with a 5 to 15-foot spread. Bristly Locust is covered in purplish bristly hairs on stems and branches and also has spines at the base of the leaf stems.

It prefers sun to partial shade in soils rich in organic matter but is adaptable to most soil types including poor ones. It is drought tolerant and deer-resistant. Use as a hedge or to stabilize banks,

Site:  Sun; a range of soil types including dry and poor

Form:  Spreading; suckering

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Arrot'
'Arrot'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#pink flowers#native tree#native shrub#NC native#pink fruits#spines#NC Native Pollinator Plant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#weed#hedge#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Arrot'
'Arrot'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#pink flowers#native tree#native shrub#NC native#pink fruits#spines#NC Native Pollinator Plant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#weed#hedge#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Robinia
    Species:
    hispida
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Pennsylvania to South East U.S.A
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Pink
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Bristly purple flat seed pod 2-3 inches long contains 3-5 seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pink to bright rose pea-like flowers on 2 to 4 in. produced on pendulous raceme in mid-spring. Stems are covered with bristly hairs. Individual flowers are 1 inch across with 5 petals. The calyx is covered with purple-brown bristly hairs and it has 5 teeth. Blooms April- June
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, pinnate compound blue-green leaves; yellow fall color. They are ¾–1½' long and odd-pinnate with 7-15 leaflets that are 1-2" long and .5-1" across. Tips and bases are rounded. At the base of each stem are 2 sharp spines.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Bark Description:
    Thin smooth brown bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are covered with purplish-brown bristly hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, depression, anorexia, weakness, difficulty breathing, diarrhea (bloody), death
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Toxalbumins: phasin, robin and robitin (bark, leaves and seeds)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No