Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,673 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Black Locust: observations by month (U.S.)
About Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known in its native territory as black locust, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to the southeastern 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 species in some areas. Another common name is false acacia, a literal translation of the specific name (pseudo meaning fake or false and acacia referring to the genus of plants with...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Black Locust by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 292 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 282 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 169 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 155 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 152 | May | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 115 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 106 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 102 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 98 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 92 | April | Apr–May |
| Texas | 89 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 78 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 76 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 74 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 73 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 56 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alabama | 46 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Mississippi | 46 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 46 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 42 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 39 | June | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 39 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 31 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 29 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 28 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Idaho | 27 | June | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 25 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 24 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 24 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 23 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 22 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 20 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 18 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 17 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 16 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 15 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Louisiana | 15 | March | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 13 | April | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 5 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black Locust?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Black Locust most often seen?
The most observations come from Virginia, California, Kentucky.