Don't know the answer to your question but I did plant 100 black locust trees 2 years ago and they have grown really well, in spite of some browse damage from the deer and rabbits. Planted them on some ground that wouldn't grow anything (pond spoils).

So far no nectar, I hear it takes quite a while. They use these for reforestation of strip mines and I can see why.

The best deal I could find was from a tree farm in Pensylvania, Carino Nursery was the name I think.

 

We have lots of honey locust in areas of WV The honey is very desirable and almost water white. The trees bloom most years but they don't always produce enough nectar for surplus honey.
They should start blooming after after about 5 or 6 years

 

Mostly I hear that Black Locust is the best for bees. Most years the frost kills the bloom where I live but sometimes it works out.

 

The blacks have thorns here abouts. I like the honey-locust-yellow for show in the fall. But the blacks have the puple flowers all spring for the bees.
Peace

 

Check out Cold Stream Farm ( http://www.coldstreamfarm.net ) for black locust trees. I bought poplars from them and they thrived from day one.

 

Thanks HObie I've been looking for a Michigan source for trees.

There have been a number of discussions here about the different types of locust tree. I think the conclusion has been that the black locust is the one to go for if you want to make a honey crop. Sometimes folks refer to it as honey locust but the true black locust is the one I think you want.

 

There are two different locusts (with many varieties that are thornless or fruitless):

Honey locust (Gleditsia triancanthos)
and
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).

Does anyone know which is preferred, or are both good honey-producers?

 

Robinia pseudoacacia is what you want. the honey in honey locust refers to the color of the wood.
Black locust only transplants when dormant.
They are easy to start If the seeds are scarified. I use battery acid for about 5 seconds. If you can't pick your own seeds localy a good source is http://www.sheffields.com/
chris

 

Chris I thought "scarified" meant that you put the seeds in the freezer and "scared" them with the cold.

Didn't know you put acid on them! How does that work? SCARY!

 

If you use acid, keep it on ice. Unchilled acid can cook the seed. If you are careful, it is often enough to bleach the seeds and rinse with clean water. After this, score the seed coat with a 1 sided razor and wrap in a moist paper towel. I'm told that the thorny acacia varieties found in Southern Europe and Africa can also produce some really premium honey that the French really like.

 

Honeylocust ,Gleditsia triancanthos, gets it's name from the sweetness of the seed pods. They are sweet, but not tasty. These trees, if they are not the thornless variety have huge, three pronged thorns. If you start them from seed, they will have thorns since all the thornless varieties are grafted. Seedless types are the ones usually planted as ornamentals, but they do not bloom much.

Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, also has thorns, but smaller. I've heard that these are
hardy to zone 3, but the few that I've found in my zone 4 area often have have the flower buds frozen during late frosts. No flower buds, no nectar.

The easiest way to scarify seed is to scratch it with a file. I have a three cornered file that makes a quick easy cut. It only requires one nick in the seed coat to allow in water. You can nick a lot of seeds in twenty minutes. Some people scratch it well with sandpaper. Of courst this requires plants that have reasonably large seeds, but both of these trees do.

Using acid can be pretty tricky. The acid has to burn away most of the seed coat without going too deep.

 

Maybe he means stratification?

 

Stratification is cold treatment to break dormancy. Scarification is the breaking of the seed coat.

 

OK thanks that clears it up. Thanks.

There is an article by Walt Wrigth in BC about 2-3 years ago entitled "Do you get Black Locust in your supers?"

He did a nice analysis of different regions of the country where there is black locust (Michigan, Tenn., Md.) and in some they store it and in some they don't

He ties it into Swarm reproduction cut off. There is also an old graph in that story that shows a hive scale graph for a Michigan Hive. Worthwhile if you can find it.

 

I love the heavy smell of Black Locust blooms.. the blooms I see are white.. and hange in bunches like grapes.. this spring they were in full bloom for weeks.. the honey is water clear.

Black Locust tree's will sprout from their own roots.. that's why if you usually see one.. they'll be a grove of them together.

 

Black locust has been planted in Hungary on large scale. They use many species and the blooming season is quite long... the result is that they are exporting a lot of "acacia" honey all over Europe

In France, we tend to find just one (robinia pseudoacacia), and the flower is very sensitive to both the wind and rain... This tree has a reputation to be a good bee plant only 1 year out of 10.

Honey locust blooms later in the year so I would say it's a more reliable source of nectar, but it wont give as much as black locust when it does!

[ November 03, 2006, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: louis1st ]

 

Bonjour Louis! Comment allez vous?

Do you have the latin name for what you refer to as the honey locust in your post?

Merci!

 

We have lots of Black Locust in our area and the years that we have heavy bloom you can get abundant amber honey that is a big hit to my customers. I have to say that I will keep more for myself as well. They seem to have a five year cycle for blooming with the most abundant bloom year followed by the least.
BerkeyDavid, I can send you all the seed you want just send me a privet e-mail with your address and next summer when the seeds drop I will send you some. They must be easy to start when the seed hit the ground they germinate like weeds.

 

Hi David
Honey locust = Gleditsia (already mentioned above)

Black locust = robinia pseudo acacia

I hope this helps!

 

David,

When I select trees for bees, I also like to select trees that are beneficial to wildlife, have a potential timber value or produce fruits I can harvest.

Black Locust is a good honey plant, good for wildlife and has timber value, so it would be a very good choice.

Here’s a link where I get my seedlings, that has several other honey producing trees listed also.

http://www.spandles.com/spandleshome/spandlestrees.html

 

Black Locust trees are a weed around here. They will spread by seed and suckers and they will ruin tires with their thorns. Considering my field has been overtaken by them, it's good to know they have some redeeming features.
-Jenn

 

The smaller ones are easy to transplant--to more acceptable locations. And yes they do tend to create their own community.
Lol