Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia - Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia', sometimes called Golden Acacia, is a particularly bright variety of false acacia, with its foliage changing from spring to autumn. This beautiful deciduous tree has a flexible and airy habit and delicate foliage that provides light shade without harming companion plants. It spring, it is covered in gold and white clusters. Its beautiful, highly scented and edible flowering is also highly appreciated by bees. This false acacia owes its success to its ease of cultivation in any soil and under almost all climates, except in very windy regions as its wood is brittle.

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' is a horticultural variety derived from Robinia pseudoacacia, a tree native to the Eastern United States. It belongs to the Fabaceae family. These plants are capable of assimilating atmospheric nitrogen through their roots and therefore do not need to draw it from the soil, which allows them to grow in poor environments. 'Frisia', with a smaller growth than the species, has particularly bright and changing foliage, in various shades of yellow. It is a long-lived tree with a columnar habit in its early years, with a loosely rounded crown as it matures. Fast-growing, 'Frisia' will reach an average height of 8 m (26.2 ft) with a spread of 4 m to 5 m (13.1 ft to 16.4 ft). The bark, initially smooth, develops an interesting fissured texture with age. The branches are strong but brittle, and some are armed with thorns. Its deciduous leaves, measuring 15 cm to 20 cm (5.9 in to 7.9 in) long, are divided into about twenty leaflets. They are highly decorative, transitioning from spring yellow to acidic green in summer, before turning yellow-amber, ochre or orange in autumn. Flowering takes place in May, on individuals about ten years old. The abundant pendulous inflorescences measure 10 cm to 20 cm (3.9 in to 7.9 in) long, and consist of white papilionaceous flowers that harmonise perfectly with the yellow foliage. This orange-scented flowering attracts pollinating insects. The flowers can be used in cooking. It is followed by the formation of flat, reddish pods containing a few rare brown bean-shaped seeds.

Please note that only the flowers are edible, the rest of the plant is highly toxic.

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' is suitable for both small and large gardens, but it is not recommended in windy locations. Planted as a specimen tree in a small garden, it also thrives on slopes or in free hedges in a large garden. It is commonly used as an ornamental tree along avenues. It can be planted against a backdrop of evergreen shrubs or conifers (cypress, thuja, yew, juniper). It can also be planted in a flowered grove with poor soil alongside other low-maintenance and highly ornamental trees or shrubs, such as Sophora davidii, broom, Indigofera gerardiana, a red oak (Quercus robur 'Purpurascens') or a purple hazel.