Bristly locust
North American ornamental shrub with large pink racemes; gives honey bees moderate nectar but nothing like the flow of black locust.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1-3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Bristly locust is a shrub from southeastern North America whose shoots and flower stalks are covered in reddish bristles. Its flowers resemble those of black locust but are larger and rose-pink, opening in loose racemes. Honey bees visit it for nectar; however, since the plant is usually grown singly or in small groups, its value for beekeeping is local.
Flowering
It flowers in May–June; in hot summers a sparse second flowering may appear towards the end of August.
Honey and pollen
It has no honey of its own. Most plants are sterile, so they set no seed, and their pollen contribution is limited too.
Note for the beekeeper
Because it spreads quickly by root suckers, it is used to stabilise banks and dry slopes; in the garden it should be kept in check. It is usually sold as a small tree grafted onto a black locust stem. It is no substitute for black locust in honey production, but it is a bee-friendly choice for ornamental planting.