Honey locust vs black locust wood

Bark and Thorns: The black locust tree has bark of a dark color with a pattern of furrows that look like rope that's intertwined. Honey locust trees, on the other hand, can have brown or gray bark, and you'll see clusters of red-brown thorns among the branches or single thorns lining each stem.

Is honey locust the same as black locust?
Is honey locust good for woodworking?
Is honey locust wood valuable?
How can you tell a honey locust?
Is locust wood good for anything?
Is black locust poisonous?
How do you kill honey locusts?
Is honey locust as rot resistant as black locust?
Is honey locust wood toxic?
Is honey locust safe?
How long will a locust post last?
How hard is black locust?

Is honey locust the same as black locust?

The leaves are very different. The black locust has very simple compound leaves where honey locust trees have bipinnate compound leaves. New leaves also come out earlier in the honey locust than the black locust. The black locust's botanical name is Robinia pseudoacacia and the honey locust's is Gleditsia triacanthos.

Is honey locust good for woodworking?

Honey Locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, is a great American wood for the 4th of July week! The tree can reach a height of 65 to 100 feet and produce dense and durable lumber that works well and takes a nice polish. ... Logs are also used for posts and rails since the wood takes a long time to rot.

Is honey locust wood valuable?

Since sawlog quality trees are not abundant, the species is not often traded in the wholesale market, but sooner or later, every hardwood sawmill will likely produce some honey locust lumber. For the woodworker looking for something a little different and at a reasonable price, honey locust could be the ticket.

How can you tell a honey locust?

Honey locust tree leaves

The leaves on honey locust trees appear slightly earlier than on black locust trees. One way to tell honey locusts apart from black locust trees is that the leaves have no leaflet at the tip. Also, honey locust tree leaves tend to be a lighter shade of green than the “black” variety.

Is locust wood good for anything?

In Hungary, Black Locust is the basis of commercial honey production. The high-density wood is the most rot resistant wood we can grow in our climate, making it an ideal material for fenceposts, hope poles, outdoor furniture, decks, and other projects that require weatherproof materials.

Is black locust poisonous?

The bark, seeds, leaves and twigs of the black locust tree are toxic to humans, cattle, poultry, sheep, and horses. The black locust grows 40-100 feet tall and is most common in the southeastern states of the United States. ... The black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) is extremely poisonous if consumed.

How do you kill honey locusts?

Herbicides -- When applied to a hole drilled in the stump of a recently felled honey locust, the herbicides picloram and triclopyr will quickly and efficiently kill the tree. These herbicides can also be painted onto the bark at the base of young trees to kill them, although this is largely ineffective on older trees.

Is honey locust as rot resistant as black locust?

Both honey and black locust wood have the same attributes as far as resistiance to rot, uses, etc.

Is honey locust wood toxic?

Honey locust can produce numerous thorns that are capable of puncturing implement tires. Though not listed as a toxic plant, contact with thorns often results in sore wounds that are slow to heal.

Is honey locust safe?

The pulp on the inside of the pods is edible (unlike the black locust, which is toxic) and consumed by wildlife and livestock. Despite its name, the honey locust is not a significant honey plant.

How long will a locust post last?

Locust might last for 20 years in a wet location; longer if dry. Treated pine may also be graded, so that you know the design strength. Certainly for ground contact, use treated pine.

How hard is black locust?

Its Janka hardness also compares favorably with other woods. At 1700, it's better than red oak (1290), but a bit less than tropical hardwoods like jarrah (1910) and ipe (3684). It's also difficult to glue. But biologically, black locust is “remarkably decay resistant.”