Robinia is a deciduous tree and shrub that can grow from 4 to 25 metres in height. The wood is used for fence posts (easy to split) and for exterior joinery because of its rot-proof nature.
 
 

 

The Robinia (Robiniapseudoacacia) is native to North America and can be found almost everywhere in the world. Its name is a tribute to its inventor, Jean Robin, botanist and arborist to Henry IV. The first specimen, planted in 1601 in the Place Dauphine in Paris, then transferred to the Jardin des Plantes in 1635, still exists.
It was highly valued until the Second Empire for its physical qualities and natural durability, before falling into oblivion in the industrial era, competing with steel and iron. Robinia is the third most important hardwood species after poplar and eucalyptus, covering 3.2 million hectares worldwide.
Today, Robinia wood is a material that is particularly suitable for outdoor structures (fences, gratings, swimming pool decks, garden and street furniture, etc.) that are subject to frequent or permanent moisture.
 

 
 

The grey-brown trunk of the Robinia has a thick, vertically cracked bark; the tree has large thorns on the young branches and non-flowering twigs. The deciduous foliage is quite dense, forming late and falling early, leaving the tree completely bare for half the year. 
 

 

Our acacia products come from forests in Romania, a country where the land is suitable for the cultivation of locust trees. Indeed, its soils and climate are perfectly suited to the needs of the acacia tree, namely:
 
Soil

The Acacia Robinia prefers light, drained and humus-rich soil. It does not like wet soils, clayey and compacted soils, and soils that are too calcareous. 

Exposure

It likes full sun, tolerates part shade, but fears full shade and strong winds.
 
 

Planting

Black locust is a very fast growing tree. It settles spontaneously on uncultivated land and is not afraid of drought.
The roots should be well spread out and the crown should remain above ground level. It is also important to place a strong stake facing the wind to support the plant and to press it down with the feet, as the Robinia fears strong winds.
 

Watering

Watering should be regular and abundant during the first months for spring plantations, and only once a week when it does not rain for trees planted in autumn. The most important thing is that it does not run out of water in the first summer: the Robinia is not afraid of drought, but its growth may be slowed down. 
 

Maintenance, diseases, pests and pruning

The Robinia is not susceptible to disease or pests. The trunk can be protected from animals that nibble or scratch the bark.
In terms of fertiliser, compost at the foot of the tree in the first few years will do it a world of good.
No pruning is really necessary, but it is important to remove dead or fragile branches as they grow. In the autumn, remove the shoots as they are of no use: prune the branches that cross each other and those that grow inwards.
 

Multiplication

The Robinia can be propagated by sowing in the spring or simply by dividing in the autumn by removing the shoots.
 

 
 

The Robinia is a tree with many qualities:

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• Fast growing, easy to cultivate

• Resistant to cold, drought and pollution, with few requirements

• Dense, hard and almost rot-proof wood, naturally durable, often used as a replacement for exotic woods (decking, fences, garden furniture...), or as firewood. The NF EN 335 standard concerns the durability of wood and defines 5 classes of risk of biological attack (the higher the index, the more satisfactory the resistance). Together with teak, Robinia is one of the few species that are naturally allowed to be in risk class 4 in their untreated state and without any chemical treatment

• Exceptional natural life span: outdoors, without contact with the ground, Robinia has a life span of 60 to 80 years. Underwater, from 300 to 500 years, and under cover, in a dry environment: up to 1,000 years 

• Its highly developed root system stabilises the soil

• Robinia meets the fire safety requirements of public buildings

• Thanks to its very stable fibre, Robinia guarantees a high level of safety and is easily repaired if necessary

• It is resistant to destructive insects (capricorns, termites...), to the most common parasitic fungi in our temperate climates and to the weather thanks to the natural antiseptic Robinia