violet purple, fragrant, 5 lobed, in numerous drooping racemes that close-up at night
Fruit
brown oblong legume, red-brown seeds maturing in September through October
Leaves
green, alternate, pinnately compound with 7-19 leaflets reaching 8-14" in length, new foliage bronzy red
Stems
twigs are zigzagged, paired spines form at each leaf
Dimensions
30 feet tall
Maintenance
reported to become a weedy tree by suckering
Cultivar Origin
Originated prior to 1964.
Author's Notes
One day in the spring I walked past a block of trees, looked at the leaves and quickly recognized the plant as a Robinia. Thought nothing of them until a month later I walk past the same group and to my surprise they had drooping racemes of purple flowers. This was my first encounter with Purple Robe Black Locust.
Notes & Reference
#154-Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs (Michael Dirr), #93-North American Landscape Trees (Arthur Lee Jacobson), #144-Missouri Botanical Gardens web site www.missouribotanicalgarden.org)