Almost all Locust trees can survive for more than a hundred years and their wood is deemed harder than the strongest deciduous trees. takes 1 yr. to season, a 4″ stick tages 2 years, etc. It' makes some really good mead I know this is a thread about burning wood so please just humor this former beekeeper that loved it when the hives were just right for the black locust bloom. It makes great outdoor furniture. BL has smaller thorns in the twigs by the leaves. Locust vs. Oak. Honey Locust has large branching thorns, whereas Black Locust has individual spines, typically at the base of leaves. Neither black locust … But there is a problem with many types: The flattened seed pods are a bother to rake up. Both are ring porous. It' makes some really good mead I know this is a thread about burning wood so please just humor this former beekeeper that loved it when the hives were just right for the black locust bloom. Both are considered heavy hard and strong (duh!) The honey locust’s bark is brown or grey in colour and the tree has  bunches of thorns. The next spring the poles sprouted! firewood: call it a draw . A relatively pure locust honey is also high in fructose, nearly clear in color, and that it makes it—like the wood from locust trees—a viable candidate for long-term storage. Honey Locust Trees (Gleditsia triacanthos) The Spruce / David Beaulieu. Honey locust trees can grow up to between 60 and 80 feet tall, with a spread that is also between 60 and 80 feet. Honey locust is well known for its sometimes large thorns, which is where its other name, thorny locust, comes from. Planted in France, it is the source of that country’s Acacia Monofloral Honey even though it is not an Acacia. Only ever seen it rot in under that time after continuous ground contact. It's hard as rocks once dried. Honey locust trees can grow up to between 60 and 80 feet tall, with a spread that is also between 60 and 80 feet. Honey locust turns out to be a pretty optimal firewood (as long as you're careful not to jab yourself with the thorns). Locust, Yellow Locust, Black Locust (Robinia Pseudacacia, Linn. Because black locust trees are so hard, the wood can be quite challenging to cut. The clearest difference between Black Locust and Honey Locust is the difference in their thorns. #2 • Dec 8, 2015. Have never used or thought about using it to smoke with. It is native to the eastern United States, but has been … The most significant pest of black locust is the locust borer, which can damage and occasionally kill young trees. This is due to its beauty, durability of 50+ years, and certifiable sustainability. Just like tropical hardwoods, they have natural water-resistant, rot-resistant, and anti-fungal properties. The black locust thrives in hardy conditions, creating stunning cascades of aromatic flowers as it grows. Honey locust trees have thorns surrounding the bark whereas a black locust tree has grooves on it that resembles ropes but not thorns. Both the black and honey locust have smooth, thin, shiny seedpods. I do NOT like working with it though. When you cut the wood, the grain of honey locust will have a peach or pink tint. small and single. Because wood drys alot from the sides also, a 2″ stick . When soaked in water, shavings from osage-orange will turn water yellow. Lastly, the wood of both varieties is excellent for woodworking and railroad posts. A black locust of 300 plants was established in 1963 at the Elsberry Plant Materials Center near Elsberry, Missouri. Black vs Honey Locust (Read 8430 times) gobbler74. Although a common misconception is that its wood is strong and durable (pioneers built ships and houses with black locust wood), its branches are actually brittle and damage easily in high winds. Black locust is also called false acacia or yellow locust. Black locust and Honey locust are types of trees that grow in warm climatic regions. I turned a mallet from fairly green black locust. Is this why he says the wood could be much darker on a … Black locust thorns are not bad, 1/2" at most, and they are really only on the new growth, as the branch gets bigger they loose the thorns. Also, they measure the outside of the box and all dimensions round down if below 0.5 inch and up if over 0.5 inch. The black locust is a shade-intolerant tree and needs plenty of sunlight. You have to be careful what time of year a black locust is cut. They are rapidly growing trees that can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm.) It is very rot resistant and can last for many decades, even when in contact with soil. Firewood Types : Black Locust, also known as False Acacia, is a native North American tree which has some outstanding properties both as lumber and black locust firewood. Honey locust tree … I can attest to it's density, hardness and weight. Honey locust ‘Skyline’ can be grown in USDA zones 3-9. Firewood. In fact the Black Locus actually produces more honey than the Honey Locust. A black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia has seed pods that are 2.5 to about 5 in long, flat and approximately 1/8 in thick. if the energy/mass measurement is used, though, there are plenty of other woods with higher marks. Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known in its native territory as black locust, is a medium-sized hardwood deciduous tree, belonging to the tribe Robinieae of the legume family Fabaceae. Black Locust firewood is incredibly dense, similar in energy density to anthracite coal, and burns hot and long with a low flame. Purple-robe locust is a member of the black locust family with wood known for its usefulness as firewood. But if you look at the seedpod, there are minor differences. Due to its fast-growing abilities, it can grow as much as 20 feet in the initial few ten years and can go on to reach up to 70 feet. Black Locust, america's environmentally friendly super tree. Black vs Honey Locust … Removal of the mature stand occurred in about 1987. If there is anyone around who heats with wood, they might be willing to help you out with the disposal of the trees. Unlike Black Locust, it takes hundreds to even thousands of years for tropical hardwoods to reach a harvestable size. Many people on YouTube, including some nursery owners (who should know better! Black Locust vs Oak: in 1812 the Americans won the war against the British due to their use of the strongest hardwood material for their fleet. Black Locust trenails and wheel-spokes have few, if … Honey bees love it, as do many native pollen bees. During ground clearing for planting in IL, Dad and I cut a lot of Honey Locust and Black Locust. Even though the tree grows extremely fast, it still produces tough, dense, heavy firewood. 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