Though it is only native to the southernmost Counties in Indiana, Black Locust trees can be found throughout the state, primarily along forested edges, in fallow fields, prairies, drainage ditches, and other sunny unmanaged areas. 

So, what is the issue with Black Locust? Surely if a tree's native range is so close to where we are, just a couple hours south on the highway and you are in its native range, it can't be too harmful for our environment, right? Well, the answer to how harmful Black Locust can be depends on how well it is doing on a particular site. In dry and sandy prairies, woodland edges, and savanna habitats, Black Locust forms thickets that outcompete other, more valuable native species and reduce already reduced prairie habitat. In addition to reducing valuable habitat, the highly fragrant Black Locust blossoms compete with native plants for pollination from bees. 

Some land managers consider Black Locust to be harmless and naturalized, while others consider it to be an invasive pest that needs to be controlled and managed. Whether you see this as valuable and naturalized plant or aggressive pest probably depends on how present it is on your property and whether it is a nuisance to you. If you own or manage large areas of woodland edges or prairies you may consider this plant a nuisance, but if you live in an urban setting or manage established woods you may not have ever seen this plant before. 

So should you manage Black Locust on your property? On sites where Black Locust is plentiful and dominant it is encouraged to reduce their population in favor of other native diversity. It is not encouraged to plant Black Locust unless you intend to use it as a crop plant. It is also unlikely that you should be concerned with total eradication of Black Locust on your property as it does provide nitrogen fixing properties to the soil and habitat for native animals.

Black Locust thrives in fields and along wooded edges.

I have been a volunteer with HIP since its inception in 2019 and primarily work with the education committee giving presentations about native and invasive plants to educate the public. My colleague in all things native and invasive, Laura McCloughan, and I started the Weed Wrangle program at Dillon Park which is entering year #5! I have always been a “plant person”; growing up with parents who owned a flower shop and greenhouses and had a huge garden. I wanted to be a forest ranger but was discouraged from that career path (no jobs at that time!) so I turned to my other love, animals, and became a veterinary ophthalmologist and ended up practicing in Stuart, FL where I met my husband. We moved back to Indiana and eventually bought a farm/airport with way too much turfgrass.
 
Working with Hamilton County Soil and Water, we converted a lot of that land to native prairies and tree plantings, and I have been hooked ever since. I started learning and doing invasive plant removal work a few years later. Volunteering with HIP is definitely the most fun and rewarding thing I have done. I love working in nature and talking plants with people. It is my passion! I encourage anyone who likes to hear birds sing, watch butterflies dance, help Mother Nature and be able to see the fruits of your labor to give HIP a try. You don’t need any training or tools, just a willing spirit. Now I am headed to my favorite place in Hamilton County, the woods across the road from my farm. It is restorative, peaceful, calming and I love seeing all the changes since I started removing the invasive plants. ​