by Lydia Holley April 21, 2025, 2025
I made my husband turn the truck around so I could figure out what plant had such pretty pink flowers. Upon inspection, its identification was revealed: bristly locust (Robinia hispida).
According to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, bristly locust is native to the Appalachian mountains, from Virginia to Georgia, and into Alabama. With such a beautiful bloom, I wanted to know more about this U.S. native. I found this plant has both good and bad qualities.
First the good. Bristly Locust will grow in full to part sun, in almost any type of soil, from sandy to clay-loam. Being a part of the pea family, it may add nitrogen to the soil. It will grow in soils as acidic as 3.5 pH or as alkaline as 8. Growing up to 10 feet tall, it grows so well in sandy soils, it is often used for erosion control. It is both drought tolerant and deer resistant.
Now the bad. It is easily damaged by wind or snow. It can be grafted to make it behave more like a tree, but Bristly Locust itself spreads aggressively underground to form thick colonies. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center throws cold water on its landscaping value, stating “Because the flowers last a short time, this shrub is more functional than ornamental.” Although it is not listed as an invasive plant, Missouri Botanical Garden specifically says it is considered a noxious weed in several states and “should not be moved or grown under conditions that would involve danger of dissemination.”
Even its seed pods are bristly. I suppose, given all the bad things being said about this plant, it is good that Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center states the seed coat is virtually impermeable and needs to be scarified, either mechanically or through acid, or soaked in hot water for it to grow.
After a little research, because of all the undesirable qualities listed about this plant, I marked it off my list of plants I may wish to grow in the future. Not every beautiful plant is worth growing. But every beautiful plant is worth learning about.
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