Locust Trees

Locust trees are fast growers, providing filtered shade to plants growing under them. They require full sun and moderate watering.

Deciduous, hardwood trees, growing from 30 to 70 high.

Locust trees can be found growing along old ditch-banks throughout the Mesilla Valley in New Mexico.

The Honey Locust has light green or golden-yellow feathery leaflets and long curvy seed pods, see photos.

The Purple Robe Locust has beautiful clusters of fragrant, lavender-pink flowers and is well worth planting. See bottom photo.

Locust trees do love water, but they can also be very drought tolerant once established. Their surface roots can be a problem if the tree is not deeply watered.

The Locust is a very good shade tree for the desert Southwest.