Purple Robe Locust Tree

Need a fast-growing, hard-wooded, easy-care, extremely ornamental native tree? We literally can't keep this tree in stock! The flowering Purple Robe Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purple Robe') is an improvement of the native Black Locust tree!

It's become incredibly popular because of its great purple flower color and excellent fragrance! But once established, tough Purple Robe Locust trees are also super hardy and drought tolerant with a brisk growth rate of 2 or 3 feet of growth each year!

Purple Robe Locust trees develop incredible, long clusters of purple-colored flowers in mid-to-late spring that look very much like Wisteria flowers. These beautifully fragrant clusters cover the tree profusely and may be up to eight inches long each! It is an impressive display, and you will definitely want to cut a few and bring them indoors to enjoy in a cut flower arrangement. Bees and beneficial insects love the flowers as much as you will!

Each spring, the leaves emerge reddish bronze, before maturing to dark blue-green. The large compound leaves have smaller blue-green leaflets, and you'll love the fine-textured look of the tree in summer. Fall clean-up is easy with these small leaves, too!

This improved variety is much less thorny than its predecessor but keep an eye out because it's common for this tree to grow a few thorns. Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 8, these trees feature compound leaves that cast light-dappled shade over your landscape, then turn yellow in the fall!

Planting and Application:

Our horticultural team has put together recommendations on how to best use this tree in your landscape! This tree is an excellent barrier plant to protect your property beautifully! Mix into a shelterbelt or windbreak hedge to add height and airy texture to your landscape hedges.

You can plant this tree as an easy-care, fast-growing specimen in your lawn. Mow the grass right up to the trunk to keep the plant as a single stem. Front and backyards gain lush shade without sacrificing your green lawn!

Locusts are durable and rugged enough to be used in commercial plantings, parking lots, and as street trees along the road without worry the roots will get into trouble! Handling the tough conditions by the road with ease! Plus Locust trees are very hard-wooded and will tolerate storms, wind, and snow-load well! They will grow just about anywhere and make an excellent small yard tree, needing little fertilizer or much of anything else!

• Fragrant, Wisteria-Like Purple Flower Clusters
• Fast Growing & Easy to Grow
• Mid-Sized Ornamental Flowering Tree
• Fine-Textured Oval Leaflets
• Excellent, Hard-Wooded Street Tree, Shade & Specimen Lawn Tree

#ProPlantTips for Care:

As with any plant, proper site selection is key to success and to YOUR happiness. Plant Purple Robe Locust in an open, sunny space where it will get plenty of light and air circulation. The beauty of this mid-sized ornamental tree is that it can grow in just about any condition as long as the soil drains quickly after a rain. Even in poor, infertile soils, the Tree seems to do well! After they are established, Black Locust cultivars only need supplemental watering during extended periods of drought.

Top the soil with a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch - especially when planted in the lawn. Create a buffer zone extending 3-4 feet from the trunk to protect the bark from mower and weed-wacker damage. Timing is important! Wait until late spring when the flowers are done blooming before making any pruning cuts. You won't want to miss any of the show!

• Full Sun Deciduous Tree
• Highly Adaptable to Any Well-Drained Soil
• Moderate to Low Moisture Needs Once Established
• Prune When Dormant
• Handsome Tree is Tough as Nails
• Heat Tolerant & Waterwise Once Established

It's time for you to jump on this. We ALWAYS sell out of this incredible flowering ornamental tree and this year will be no exception. Don't wait for your chance to own this gorgeous tree, order your own Purple Robe Black Locust Tree now!