Black locust trees might not be the most obvious invaders in your yard, but their stealthy nature makes them worth identifying. A native of the Appalachian and Ozark regions, black locusts have ...

Could this tree be a locust, even though it’s blooming white flowers? — M.C., Albuquerque A: It sounds to me like you’ve stumbled upon a black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia).

Black locust was not found in central Pennsylvania 200 years ago. However, it is native to the Ohio River Valley, which includes the western part of the state.

The black locust grew faster in cooler, wetter cities such as Melbourne, as expected, while honey locust and Chinese elms grew more slowly in hotter cities. But others defied expectations.

The locust logs were intended for a heavily eroded half-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail that’s been on SMHC’s project list for at least six years.