Botanical profile

Black Locust ‘Purple Robe’

Latin name
Black Locust ‘Purple Robe’
Common name
Black Locust 'Purple Robe'
Type
TREE
Family
Fabaceae

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’ is a deciduous tree with spectacular blooms, highly prized for its pendulous clusters of fragrant purple-pink flowers that blossom in spring, attracting bees and butterflies. This ornamental cultivar of the black locust is also distinguished by its dark green compound foliage, preceded by bronze to purple young shoots, which turn a vibrant golden yellow in autumn. Its upright to slightly spreading habit gives it a majestic appearance, perfectly suited for large gardens, avenues, or natural shaded areas. Fast-growing, it can adapt to a wide variety of well-drained, even poor, soils and prefers full sun exposure. Its hardiness down to -34 °C and its ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen make it a robust, decorative, and ecological choice.

Care guide

Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 4
Exposure
Sun
Watering
Moderate
Fertilization
Light top-up in spring
Soil type
Well-drained, tolerates poor soils
Minimum temperature
-40 °C (-40 °F)
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Spring
Flower color
Violet / Purple
Fruiting
Pods (inedible)
Foliage color
Green (bronze-purple new growth)
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Tree / upright to spreading
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
12 m (39 ft)
Width
30 ft (9 m)
Growth rate
Fast
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.